Canary flora > Exotic and ornamental
Aristolochia gigantea
Aristolochia gigantea Mart. & Zucc.
Brazilian Dutchman's pipe, Giant pelican flower
Climbing, evergreen species with stems up to 10 m long, lignified at the
base, which is striking for the rarity of its striking flowers, white in
colour but almost entirely covered with dark red spots.
Its leaves are large, up to 16 cm long and 10 cm wide, simple,
alternate, petiolate, light green, obovate, cordate, pointed, smooth on
the upper side and with a sparse grayish hairiness on the underside.
The flowers, arranged on hanging peduncles, are axillary, solitary, without petals, with calyx formed by a long inflated and recurved tube, up to 12 cm long, elongated in the shape of a trombone, with elliptic vertical edge deeply lobed at the base, up to 20 cm long and 12 cm wide, of whitish color that becomes yellowish, and densely stained with dark purple.
The flowers, arranged on hanging peduncles, are axillary, solitary, without petals, with calyx formed by a long inflated and recurved tube, up to 12 cm long, elongated in the shape of a trombone, with elliptic vertical edge deeply lobed at the base, up to 20 cm long and 12 cm wide, of whitish color that becomes yellowish, and densely stained with dark purple.
The throat, orange-yellow in color, is outlined on its upper edge by a
black spot and covered with a whitish down that favors the entrance of
pollinating insects, but prevents their exit until fertilization has
taken place.
In older plants the flowers may grow directly on the stems.
The fruits are grayish oblong capsules up to 8 cm long and 3 cm wide, dehiscent, containing numerous flat, thin seeds.
It usually reproduces by seed, but also by cuttings.
In older plants the flowers may grow directly on the stems.
The fruits are grayish oblong capsules up to 8 cm long and 3 cm wide, dehiscent, containing numerous flat, thin seeds.
It usually reproduces by seed, but also by cuttings.
