Aristolochia clematitis
| Aristolochia clematitis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Aristolochia clematitis at Azille, Aude, France | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Magnoliids |
| Order: | Piperales |
| Family: | Aristolochiaceae |
| Genus: | Aristolochia |
| Species: | A. clematitis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aristolochia clematitis | |
Aristolochia clematitis, or European birthwort, is a twining herbaceous plant in the family Aristolochiaceae, which is native to most of central and southern Europe and parts of western Asia, and naturalised further north in Europe.[1]
Description
It is a herbaceous scrambling or trailing rhizomatous perennial plant growing to 80 cm long. The leaves are heart-shaped, with a distinct petiole. The flowers are 2–3 cm long, pale yellow, tubular, with a broad lip at the top. The fruit is an oval capsule. All parts of the plant have a very strong unpleasant smell. The plant seeks light by ascending the stems of surrounding plants.[2][3][4]
Toxicity
It was formerly used as a medicinal plant, though it is now thought to be the cause of thousands of kidney failure cases in Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia. The initial hypothesis that seeds from the plant were unintentionally consumed through contaminated flour has come to be questioned.[5][6] Urinary tract malignancies among those who have consumed the plant are also reported.[7] The link between kidney failure and aristolochic acid, which the plant contains, was discovered after a clinic for obesity in Belgium used herbal products based on another plant of the same genus as a diuretic. After a few months, some of the patients experienced kidney failure.[8]
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Plant at Podivín, Czech Republic -
Fruit -
Rhizome with stem and stem buds, Hollabrunn, Lower Austria -
Fruit and seeds (herbarium specimen)
See also
References
- ^ "Aristolochia clematitis L." Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ^ Streeter, David (2010). Flower Guide. London: Collins. p. 72. ISBN 978-0-00-718389-0.
- ^ "Birthwort Aristolochia clematitis L." PlantAtlas. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
- ^ Blamey, Marjorie; Grey-Wilson, C. (1989-01-01). The Illustrated Flora of Britain and Northern Europe. London: Lubrecht & Cramer Limited. p. 62. ISBN 0-340-40170-2.
- ^ Grollman, A. P.; Shibutani, S.; Moriya, M.; Miller, F.; Wu, L.; Moll, U.; Suzuki, N.; Fernandes, A.; Rosenquist, T.; Medverec, Z.; Jakovina, K.; Brdar, B.; Slade, N.; Turesky, R. J.; Goodenough, A. K.; Rieger, R.; Vukelic, M.; Jelakovic, B. (2007). "Aristolochic acid and the etiology of endemic (Balkan) nephropathy". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 104 (29): 12129–34. Bibcode:2007PNAS..10412129G. doi:10.1073/pnas.0701248104. PMC 1913550. PMID 17620607.
- ^ Batuman, Elif. "Poisoned Land". The New Yorker. 12 & 19 August 2013: 42-47. Print.
- ^ Broe, M. E. D. (2012). "Chinese herbs nephropathy and Balkan endemic nephropathy: Toward a single entity, aristolochic acid nephropathy". Kidney International. 81 (6): 513–515. doi:10.1038/ki.2011.428. PMID 22373701.
- ^ Vanherweghem, J. L.; Tielemans, C.; Abramowicz, D.; Depierreux, M.; Vanhaelen-Fastre, R.; Vanhaelen, M.; Dratwa, M.; Richard, C.; Vandervelde, D.; Verbeelen, D.; Jadoul, M. (1993). "Rapidly progressive interstitial renal fibrosis in young women: Association with slimming regimen including Chinese herbs". The Lancet. 341 (8842): 387–91. doi:10.1016/0140-6736(93)92984-2. PMID 8094166. S2CID 32428737.