Birthwort Family (Aristolochiaceae) Kingdom:Plants (Plantae) Division:Flowering Plants (Magnoliophyta) Class:Dicotyledons | Dicots (Magnoliopsida) Order:Aristolochiales (Aristolochiales) Family:Birthwort Family (Aristolochiaceae )Birthwort Family (Aristolochiaceae )

Birthwort Family The Aristolochiaceae, or the Birthwort family, are a family of flowering plants with 8 genera and about 400 species belonging to the order Piperales.belonging to the order Piperales. The type genus is Aristolochia L. The Aristolochiaceae are magnoliids, a basal group of angiosperms which are not part of the large categories of monocots or eudicots. Some newer classification schemes, such as the Update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, place the family Aristolochiaceae in the order Piperales, but it is still quite common, for the Aristolochiaceae to be assigned, sometimes with some other families, their own order (Aristolochiales). The type genus is Aristolochia L. The Aristolochiaceae are magnoliids, a basal group of angiosperms which are not part of the large categories of monocots or eudicots. Some newer classification schemes, such as the Update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, place the family Aristolochiaceae in the order Piperales, but it is still quite common, for the Aristolochiaceae to be assigned, sometimes with some other families, their own order (Aristolochiales).

Birthwort Family They are mostly perennial, herbaceous plants, shrubs, woody vines or even lianas. The membranous, cordate simple leaves are spread out, growing alternately along the stem on leaf stalks. There are no stipules. The bizarre flowers are large to medium-sized, growing in the leaf axils. They are bilaterally or radially symmetrical. They are mostly perennial, herbaceous plants, shrubs, woody vines or even lianas. The membranous, cordate simple leaves are spread out, growing alternately along the stem on leaf stalks. There are no stipules. The bizarre flowers are large to medium-sized, growing in the leaf axils. They are bilaterally or radially symmetrical. Many members of Aristolochia and some of Asarum contain the toxin aristolochic acid, which discourages herbivores and is known to be carcinogenic in rats. Aristolochia itself is carcinogenic to humans. Many members of Aristolochia and some of Asarum contain the toxin aristolochic acid, which discourages herbivores and is known to be carcinogenic in rats. Aristolochia itself is carcinogenic to humans.

Wild Ginger (Aristolochiaceae) Kingdom:Plants (Plantae) Division:Flowering Plants Class:Dicotyledons Order: Piperales Family:Wild Ginger (Aristolochiaceae) (Aristolochiaceae) Genus: Asarum

Wild Ginger

Asarum consists low-growing herbs, that are distributed over the north temperate zones with most species in Asia (mainly China, Japan and Vietnam), North America and one species in Europe. Biogeographically, Asarum originated in Asia. They have characteristically kidney-shaped leaves, growing from creeping rhizomes. They bear small, axillary brown or reddish flowers.or reddish flowers.

Wild Ginger Asarum canadense is native to the forests of eastern North America. It is found from the Great Plains east to the Atlantic Coast, and from southeastern Canada south to approximately the fall line in the southeastern United States. Asarum canadense is native to the forests of eastern North America. It is found from the Great Plains east to the Atlantic Coast, and from southeastern Canada south to approximately the fall line in the southeastern United States. The plant is called wild ginger because the rhizome tastes and smells similar to that of ginger root, but the two are not particularly related. The root can be used as a spice, but is a potent diuretic, or urinary stimulant. The plant is called wild ginger because the rhizome tastes and smells similar to that of ginger root, but the two are not particularly related. The root can be used as a spice, but is a potent diuretic, or urinary stimulant.

References aristolochiaceae/ aristolochiaceae/