Aristolochia clematitis

Aristolochia clematitis L. (S, C-Eur., SW-As.) – A rare, locally naturalised escape from or relic of cultivation. Introduced in the Middle Ages in Belgium as a medicinal plant, especially near abbeys, and very persistent. Historically known for instance from Aulne, Gent (Sint-Baafs abbey), Grobbendonk, Tongerloo, etc. Its naturalisation history elsewhere in Belgium is rather well-documented from numerous locations (mainly based on herbarium collections), for instance: Baudour (since 1926; see Buxant 1970), Beez (at least since 1947; see also Martin 1998), Eegenhoven (1856-1904), Herstal-Cheratte, border of river Meuse (1908-1946), Herten, near “Hoeve Pexters” (1930-1958), Kain (1888-1948), Lanaken, Smeermaas (1952-1982), Matagne-la-Petite, at the Chapelle St.-Hilaire (1894-1990), Vorselaar (1926-1956), Zeebrugge, border of Boudewijnkanaal (1963-1993),… In many of these places it has been confirmed lately. Aristolochia clematitis usually grows in shady, more or less nitrophilous, often damp habitats: road verges, river and canal banks, talus slopes, railway tracks, wood margins, near ruins or cemeteries or in hedges. It is still firmly established in scattered locations but, as a whole, seems to have decreased in the 20th century (Van Rompu 1978, Van Landuyt 2006).

Aristolochia clematitis, Gent, Sint-Baafs abbey, ruins, July 2010, F. Verloove Aristolochia clematitis, Gent, Sint-Baafs abbey, ruins, July 2010, F. Verloove
Aristolochia clematitis, Gent, Sint-Baafs abbey, ruins, July 2010, F. Verloove  

 


Selected literature:

Buxant F. (1970) Le coin du floriste. En glanant ça et la dans nos régions. Bull. Soc. Roy. Natur. Mons et du Borinage 53: 29-33.

Godefroid S. (1994) Hyoscyamus niger L., Galega officinalis L. et Aristolochia clematitis L. à Haren. Adoxa 2: 1-3.

Van Landuyt W. (2006) Aristolochia clematitis. In: Van Landuyt W., Hoste I., Vanhecke L., Van den Bremt P., Vercruysse W. & De Beer D., Atlas van de flora van Vlaanderen en het Brussels gewest. Instituut voor Natuur- en Bosonderzoek, Nationale Plantentuin van België en Flo.Wer: 156-157.

Van Rompu W. (1978) Aristolochia clematitis in het Land van Waas. Dumortiera 10: 29.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith