Aristolochia elegans Mast., Aristolochiaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results:  Reject, score: 13 (Go to the risk assessment)

Other Latin names:  Aristolochia littoralis auct.

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Dutchman's pipe, calico flower, elegant Dutchman's pipe

Maori (Cook Islands): mokorā

Spanish: patito

Tongan: fue paipa holani

Habit:  vine

Description:  Climber to 3 m; "leaf blade usually broader than long, somewhat cordate deltoid, rounded; flower greenish, the utricle inflated, the upper part yellow and purple, maculate, about 7 cm long." (Stone, 1970)

"Vigorous lianas. Leaves green on upper surface, lower surface glaucous, cordate-reniform, 7-9 cm long, 6-10 cm wide, pseudostipules ariculate, amplexicaul. Flowers solitary in the leaf axils, greenish yellow and dark blackish purple, the tube bent, ca 3 cm long, the limb unlobed, disk-shaped, ca 10 cm in diameter, abruptly spreading from the tube; gynostemium 8 mm high, 5 mm wide. Capsules cylindrical, 4.5 cm long, 2.5 cm in diameter. Seeds flat, ca 6 mm long" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 237-238).

See also Remarkable plants of Vanuatu. p. 168.

Habitat/ecology:  Prefers fertile, moist soils (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 95). In Hawai‘i, "cultivated, occasionally escaping, and now sparingly naturalized in the Pearl Harbor area" (Wagner et al., 1999; pp. 237-238). In New Caledonia, "liane peu cultivée mais largement naturalisée; localement abondante dans des ravins boisés sur calcaires dans le Nord-Ouest" (MacKee, 1994; p. 19).

Propagation:  Seed or cuttings.

Native range:  South America, "cultivated and naturalized elsewhere in tropics" (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2002) (p. 84) Voucher: Flynn 7040 (PTBG, BISH, US)
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Mangaia Island		National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (2002) (voucher ID: PTBG 364) Taxon name on voucher: Aristolochia littoralis
Cook Islands Southern Cook Islands	Rarotonga Island	introduced cultivated	McCormack, Gerald (2013)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	introduced cultivated	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Federated States of Micronesia Chuuk Islands	Weno (Moen) Island	introduced cultivated	Space, James C./Waterhouse, Barbara/Denslow, Julie S./Nelson, Duane/Mazawa, Thomas R. (2000) (p. 25) Species not confirmed.
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island	introduced cultivated	Smith, Albert C. (1981) (pp. 55-56) Voucher cited: DA 16727
Fiji Fiji Islands	Viti Levu Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1969) (voucher ID: BISH 33717) Taxon name on voucher: Aristolochia littoralis Parodi
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 84) Aristolochia elegans M.T. Masters
French Polynesia Gambier Islands	Mangareva (Gambier) Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Taha‘a Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R. (1997) (p. 14)
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Florence, J. (2004) (p. 84) Aristolochia elegans M.T. Masters
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island	introduced cultivated	Florence, J./Chevillotte, H./Ollier, C./Meyer, J.-Y. (2013) Cultivée
French Polynesia Society Islands	Tahiti Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1930) (voucher ID: BISH 36461) Taxon name on voucher: Aristolochia elegans
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced cultivated	Stone, Benjamin C. (1970) (p. 262)
Guam Guam Island	Guam Island	introduced	Fosberg, F. R./Sachet, Marie-Hélène/Oliver, Royce (1979) (p. 66) Voucher cited: Merrill 79
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Hawai‘i (Big) Island		Bishop Museum (U.S.A. Hawaii. Honolulu.) (1933) (voucher ID: BISH 73044) Taxon name on voucher: Aristolochia littoralis Parodi
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Imada, Clyde T./Staples, George W./Herbst, Derral R. (2000) (p. 10) Voucher cited: C. Imdada, W. Char & C. Morden 99-5 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Starr, Forest/Starr, Kim/Loope, Lloyd L. (2003) (p. 25) East Maui. Voucher cited: Starr & Martz 001121-3 (BISH)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Oppenheimer, Hank (2007) (p. 19) West Maui. Voucher cited: Oppenheimer, Duvall & Sherrill H120651 (PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (pp. 237-238) Sparingly naturalized.
New Caledonia New Caledonia	New Caledonia Islands	introduced invasive	Meyer, Jean-Yves (2000) (p. 99) As A. elegans
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Grande Terre	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 19) Vouchers cited: Däniker 2830 (Z), Schmid 769, MacKee 16066, MacKee 16974, MacKee 22377, MacKee 34946
New Caledonia New Caledonia Archipelago	Île Nou	introduced invasive cultivated	MacKee, H. S. (1994) (p. 19) Voucher cited: Suprin in MacKee 42389
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Sykes, W. R. (1970) (p. 48) Voucher cited: CHR 168880
Niue Niue	Niue Island	introduced cultivated	Yuncker, T. G. (1943) (p. 50) Vouchers cited: Yuncker 9740 (BISH), Yuncker 10200 (BISH)
Papua New Guinea Bismarck Archipelago	Bismarck Archipelago	introduced invasive cultivated	Peekel, P. G. [translated by E. E. Henty] (1984) (p. 160) Here and there wild near settlements.
Philippines Philippine Islands	Philippine Islands	introduced cultivated	Merrill, Elmer D. (1923) (p. 119) Cultivated only.
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands	Solomon Islands	introduced cultivated	Hancock, I. R./Henderson, C. P. (1988) (p. 48)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Space, James C./Flynn, Tim (2001) (p. 58)
Tonga Tongatapu Group	‘Eua Island	introduced invasive	Yuncker, T. G. (1959) (p. 106) Voucher cited: Yuncker 15616
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Tanna Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1981) (voucher ID: BISH 432673) Taxon name on voucher: Aristolochia littoralis Parodi
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Tanna Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1980) (voucher ID: BISH 618519) Taxon name on voucher: Aristolochia littoralis Parodi
Vanuatu New Hebrides Islands	Vanuatu (Republic of)	introduced	Ramon, Laurence/Sam, Chanel (2015) (p. 168)

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	New South Wales	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 95)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive cultivated	Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 95)
Singapore Singapore	Singapore (Republic of)	introduced cultivated	Chong, Kwek Yan/Tan, Hugh T. W./Corlett, Richard T. (2009) (p. 15) Cultivated only
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Colombia	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Ecuador (Republic of) (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
South America (Pacific rim) South America (Pacific rim)	Perú (Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia (Indian Ocean offshore islands) Christmas Island Group	Christmas Island	introduced invasive cultivated	Swarbrick, J. T. (1997) (p. 104) Naturalized

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	USA (Florida)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Comments:  Reported to be moderately invasive in New Caledonia (Meyer, 2000; p. 99).

Control:  If you know of control methods for Aristolochia elegans, please let us know.