Aristolochia californica

Aristolochia californica is a deciduous vine. It grows from rhizomes, to a length usually around 5 feet (1.5 m), but can reach over 20 feet (6.1 m). The twining trunk can become quite thick in circumference at maturity.
It sends out new green heart-shaped leaves after it blooms.  The bloom period is January through April.The plant produces large green to pale brown curving pipe-shaped flowers, with purple veins and a yellow to red lining. The U shaped flowers produce winged capsular green fruits.
PollinationEdit
The California pipevine's flowers have a musty unpleasant odor which is attractive to tiny carrion-feeding insects. The insects crawl into the convoluted flowers and often become stuck and disoriented for some time, picking up pollen as they wander. Most eventually escape. The plant is not insectivorous, as was formerly thought.  Fungus gnats (Mycetophilidae) may prove to be the effective pollinators.  G.L. Stebbins suggested that pollination by deceit is presumed.

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Aristolochia Californica

Aristolochia californica

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