Genus Aristolochia L. (Aristolochiaceae)Aristolochia is widely know as Birthworts which refers to the shape of the flowers as it resembles a birth canal. It contains about 400 species which is mainly distributed in tropical , subtropical and temperate regions of the Old World and also Australia. There are 45 species in China including 5 in Hong Kong. Other genera in Aristolochiaceae could be found in China include Asarum (細辛屬), Saruma (馬蹄香屬) and Thottea (綫果兜鈴屬).
Flowers of Aristolochia are protogynous, where the pistil gets mature before anthers. Pollinators carrying pollens are attracted by the flowers and enter the flowers. They are then trapped by the flowers as the retroactive hairs in the throat of the flowers help preventing the pollinators from escaping. After that, the flowers wither and the anthers dehisce. Pollens are then released onto the trapped pollinators. They are released afterward and visit other flowers to carry pollination again.
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