Family |
Aristolochiaceae
Aristolochia paecilantha
Boiss.
Aristolochia paecilantha Boiss.
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 1, Pl. CXXVII nº 3; 1966)
Life-form & habit: Perennial with an oblong or cylindrical tuber, producing few to several prostrate or ascending stems, sometimes erect, 10–30 cm, striate, simple or branched, finely pubescent.
Leaves: Broadly cordate at base; petiole 1–2 cm, pubescent; lamina triangular, obtuse or slightly acute, 3–8(–10) × up to 7 cm, young leaves pubescent on both sides, becoming glabrescent, paler beneath. Basal lobes large, broadly rounded, not divergent.
Inflorescence & flowers: Solitary axillary flowers on curved peduncles 3 cm long, bent in upper third. Perianth 7–10 cm long; basal part ovate-dilated (1–2 cm wide), densely pubescent; tube curved, up to 2 cm in diameter; limb broadly flared, with two large rounded auricles. Exterior greenish or reddish, puberulent; interior glabrous (rarely slightly hirsute), yellow with irregular purple-black blotches.
Fruit: Not described.
Phenology: Flowers from April to May.
Habitat & elevation: Rocky, semi-shaded locations, sometimes under shrubs or in rock crevices.
Lebanese distribution: Mi. Beit Méri (Deir el-Qala‘a), Broummana, Bikfaya, Mrouj, Bhamdoun, Ghazir, ‘Aramoun, ‘Abey; Mm. Faraya, Jisr el-Hajar, Hadeth, Mogheiré, Hasroun, Ehden, Cedars, Jabal Kneissé; Herm. Rachaya, Hasbaya.
Syrian distribution: Herm. ‘Arné, Mass‘adé; J.D. ‘Ahiré; A.L. Ouadi el-Qarn, Zebdani.
Native range: Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine/Israel, Turkey, Iraq (KEW, GBIF)