Aristolochia ringens
(Dutchman’s pipe)

Preferred Common Name

• Dutchman’s pipe

Other Scientific Names

• Aristolochia globiflora Mutis
• Aristolochia grandiflora sensu Vahl
• Aristolochia turbacensis Kunth
• Howardia ringens (Vahl) Klotzsch

International Common Names

• English: gaping Dutchman's pipe

Local Common Names

• Colombia: gallitos; guaco
• Cuba: flor de pato; gallito; patico
• Dominican Republic: gallito; patico
• Puerto Rico: gallito; panitos; pelicanos

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Aristolochiales
•                         Family: Aristolochiaceae
•                             Genus: Aristolochia
•                                 Species: Aristolochia ringens

The type genus of the family Aristolochiaceae, Aristolochia is a tropical genus of about 350 species, mostly herbaceous or woody vines, less frequently herbs or shrubs, with greatest diversity of species in Central and South America (Mesler and Lu, 1993; Kiew, 1999; Acevedo-Rodriguez, 2005; Wagner et al., 2015). The name Aristolochia is derived from the Greek words ‘aristos’ meaning ‘best’, and ‘locheia’ meaning ‘birth’, in reference to the Greeks’ use of the plants in childbirth, and from this reference came the common name for the genus, ‘birthwort’ (Melser and Lu, 1993). 

The species name ringens comes from the Latin word for ‘snarling’, from the lips of the flower which give the impression of a gaping mouth. The common name Dutchman’s pipe refers to the showy flowers, which are shaped like a traditional Dutch pipe.

The following description is taken from Acevedo-Rodriguez, 2005:

Slightly woody vine, twining, attaining 5 m in length. Stems cylindrical, slender, glabrous, with the pith hollow. Leaves alternate; blades 5-16 x 6-18 cm, broadly ovate, reniform or orbicular, chartaceous, with prominently reticulate venation, the apex obtuse or rounded, the base deeply cordate, the margins entire; upper surface dark green, dull; lower surface glaucous, glabrous, with numerous scattered dots; petioles 3-11 cm long, sulcate or compressed, broadened at the base; pseudostipules foliaceous, ovate-rounded, 2.5-5 cm long. Flowers solitary, pendulous; peduncle 7.5-17 cm long; utricle obovoid, 5-7 x 2.5-4 cm, the tube straight, 3-4 cm long, almost forming a right angle with the utricle; limb bilabiate, yellowish with a cardinal red reticulum, the upper lip spathulate, 6-9 cm long, the lower lip lanceolate, 10-15 cm long. Capsule 6-11 cm long, oblong or oblanceolate, with 6 ribs, the apex mucronate, the base acute; seeds numerous, rhomboid, winged, 7-15 mm long. 

A. ringens is considered native to South America but its exact origin is unknown. Date of introduction to the West Indies is uncertain, but may have occurred in the early 20^th century. The species was not listed in Macfadyen’s (1837) work on Jamaica, floras of Puerto Rico by Bello (1881; 1883), Britton’s (1918) work on Bermuda, or the flora of the Bahamas by Britton and Millspaugh (1920). Britton and Wilson did include it in the fifth volume of their 1923-1926 scientific survey of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands (Britton and Wilson, 1924), in which they report A. ringens had been previously cultivated as an ornamental on St. Croix. It is now reportedly invasive in Cuba (Oviedo-Prieto et al., 2012) and escaped in Puerto Rico (Acevedo-Rodríguez, 2005). The species does not appear to be common in tropical Asia, but in parts of Central America and central Africa it was introduced and has now naturalized (Randall, 2012; USDA-ARS, 2015).

Soil drainage

• free

Soil texture

• medium

Natural Dispersal

The seeds of A. ringens are winged, relatively small (c. 7-15 mm), light, and flat, so dispersal by wind and water is possible.

Vector Transmission (Biotic)

The roots are used by humans in traditional medicine. Animals have been known to ingest the leaves of Aristolochia, but no information has been found regarding consumption of the vine’s fruits.

Accidental Introduction

Aristolochia can propagate vegetatively, so accidental introduction through human activity is possible (Bailey and Bailey, 1976; Starr et al., 2003). The species is known to have escaped from cultivation in Africa, parts of central America and the West Indies (Liogier and Martorell, 2000; Meerman, 2003; Acevedo-Rodriguez, 2005; Randall, 2012).

Intentional Introduction

A. ringens has been intentionally introduced beyond its native South American range to central America, Africa, and the Old World tropics as an ornamental plant.

This species is a climbing vine which grows and spreads its seeds quickly. Its’ close relative A. elegans, which smothers native flora and reduces local biodiversity, is considered one of the worst 50 invasive species of Queensland, Australia (Weeds of Australia, 2015). Several Aristolochia species including A. ringens and A. elegans that have been introduced to Australia, now threaten the Richmond birdwing butterfly Ornithopterarichmondia, which mistakenly lays its eggs on these plants instead of its sole foodplant, Pararistolochia praevenosa. The larvae are then poisoned by the toxic leaves, resulting in such a decline of population that the Richmond birdwing is now extinct in over two thirds of its range (Sands and Scott, 2002; Sands and New, 2013; Weeds of Australia, 2015).

Although this species’ invasive potential is still under evaluation (PIER, 2015), considering its demonstrated negative effect on the populations of native butterflies in Australia, it poses an overall negative environmental impact on non-native environments. 

• Proved invasive outside its native range
• Tolerates, or benefits from, cultivation, browsing pressure, mutilation, fire etc
• Tolerant of shade
• Fast growing
• Has propagules that can remain viable for more than one year

• Negatively impacts human health

• Highly likely to be transported internationally deliberately

The use of various Aristolochia species as an alexiteric has been known since antiquity; its use for snake bites was praised by Theophrastus, Cicero, and Pliny, and it was also known to counter venom in Arab and Indian medicine, as well as Native American medicine (Hance, 1873). 

A. ringens is cultivated and known to have medicinal properties, and is reportedly useful as an emmenagogue and alexiteric (Michl et al., 2013; Duke, 2015; Vascular Plants of Antioquia, 2015). In Africa, where it has been introduced and in many places escaped from cultivation and become naturalized, the species is reportedly used for the management of snake bite venom, gastrointestinal disturbances such as diarrhoea, rheumatoid arthritis, and insomnia (Adeyemi et al., 2012). However, there is increasing evidence of the renal toxicity of various Aristolochia species, which contain aristolochic acid and have been associated with aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN), a renal interstitial fibrosis and upper urinary tract cancer (UUC) that is likely to be particularly underestimated among populations that rely heavily on traditional medicines (Debelle et al., 2008; Krell and Stebbing, 2013; Michl et al., 2013).