More than 2200 species of the wild flora and fauna photographed in Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, Mexico and the surrounding area.
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Pepper Plants, Birthworts, and Allies of Zihuatanejo
ORDER PIPERALES
Aristolochia tentaculata
Flowers by Colour
-Vascular Plants (Phylum Tracheophyta)
-Flowering Plants (Subphylum Angiospermae)
-Pepper Plants, Birthworts, and Allies (Order Piperales)
-Birthwort Family (Family Aristolochiaceae)
-Subfamily Aristolochioideae
-Pipevines and Birthworts (Genus Aristolochia)
-Aristolochia tentaculata
The native range of this species is Central & SW. Mexico. These flowers have a specialized pollination mechanism. The plants are aromatic and their strong scent attracts insects. The inner part of the perianth tube is covered with hairs, acting as a fly-trap. These hairs then wither to release the fly, covered with pollen. The fruit is dehiscent capsule with many endospermic seeds.
Description
• Aristolochia tentaculata is a climbing or trailing plant in the birthwort family (Aristolochiaceae). Species of Aristolochia typically have alternate leaves and unusual, tubular flowers with a curved or elongated floral tube and an expanded, often irregularly shaped limb. Some species produce flowers with narrow, thread-like extensions, which may explain the name tentaculata. The genus is also known for flowers that attract and temporarily trap small insects for pollination.
Range
• The precise native range of Aristolochia tentaculata is not well established in the information I can confidently verify. It is native to Zihuatanejo, Guerrero, and the surrounding area.
Habitat
• Birthworts commonly grow in tropical and subtropical habitats, including forest edges, thickets, and seasonally dry woodland, where their stems can trail over the ground or climb through nearby vegetation.