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Key to Aristolochia

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image of plant
Show caption*© Bonnie Semmling, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bonnie Semmling
1 Low, erect or ascending herb or (Aristolochia pentandra) a twining herbaceous vine; leaves 0.5-6.5 cm wide.
image of plant
Show caption*© Michelle W., some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michelle W.
  2 Leaf bases cuneate; gynoecium and androecium 5-merous
  2 Leaf bases cordate; gynoecium and androecium 3-, 5-, or 6-merous.
image of plant
Show caption*© Roger L. Hammer
    3 Twining herbaceous vine; gynoecium and androecium 5-merous
    3 Erect or ascending herb; gynoecium and androecium 3- or 6-merous.
      4 Leaf blade as wide as long, or wider than long; leaf venation palmate
      4 Leaf blade narrower than long; leaf venation pinnate (3-veined from the base, pinnate above)
1 Woody, twining vine; leaves 3-35 cm wide
        5 Gynostemium lobes 3; calyx limb 3-lobed, the lobes similar in size and shape and arranged radially around the tube orifice at 120 degree angles
        5 Gynostemium lobes 6; calyx limb 1- or 2-lobed (if 2-lobed, the lobes dissimilar in shape)
          6 Leaf base rounded to truncate; leaf venation pinnate
          6 Leaf base cordate; leaf venation palmate.
             7 Calyx limb 1-lobed, orbicular, 10-50 cm in diameter
               8 Calyx limb about 10 cm in diameter, notched at the bottom
               8 Calyx limb 20-50 cm in diameter, attenuate at the bottom into an elongate dangling appendage
             7 Calyx limb 2-lobed, the lower lanceolate, acuminate, folded longitudinally and bird-beak-like, 10-20 cm long, the upper with a parallel-sided claw and orbicular tip.
                 9 Upper lobe of calyx limb 14-18 cm wide, with ruffled margin, pendent below the lower lip
                 9 Upper lobe of calyx limb 4-5 cm wide, not ruffled, erect over the lower lip