Aristolochiaceae in Europe

[aristoflora]

Hi!

I'm a passionate collector of the very variable and bizarre genus Aristolochia and searching for many European species (especially from eastern Europe) at the moment. Does anybody have seeds or root stocks of the mostly tuberous species of this genus? Cuttings may also be an option to propagate.
I am very interested in any of these oddities for exchange or sale!
My collection comprises the following european species:

Aristolochia
> baetica
> bianorii
> clusii
> paucinervis
> rotunda


The other species (currently) are:
 
Aristolochia
> auricularia
> baseri
> billardieri
> bodamae
> bottae
> brevilabris
> castellana
> cilicica
> cretica
> elongata
> fontanesii
> geniculata
> guichardii
> hirta
> hyrcana
> iberica
> incisa
> isaurica
> krausei
> lutea (possibly a synonym for A. pallida)
> lycica
> macedonica
> maurorum
> merxmuelleri
> microstoma
> navicularis
> olivieri
> paecilantha
> pallida
> parvifolia
> pistolochia
> poluninii
> pontica
> rechingeriana
> sempervirens
> sicula
> stenosiphon
> steupii
> tyrrhena

Does anybody have access to one of these species?

[Karaba]

8 species are growing in France including clematitis and altissima which are missing from your list.
A. pistolochia and A. clematitis are quite common in southern France, I will think to you if I meet them. A pallida is more localized (in Provence), A. altissima and tyrrhena are much more rare (altissima on Côte d'Azur, tyrrhena in Corsica)

[aristoflora]

Sorry, I forgot to mention A. clematitis being also part of my small collection. 

Aristolochia altissima is currently regarded as a synonym of A. sempervirens, but nevertheless it's a real oddity!
I was at the Cote d' Azur once for holidays, but I didn't spot one of those. A. pistolochia seems more distributed across southwest France (Ardeche & Languedoc-Roussillon surrounding) according to other collectors who often take photos from there. Do you know where Aristolochia occur in your surroundings? I never spotted A. clematitis in southern Germany where it should occur too.
A. tyrrhena is also part of the flora of the Egadi Islands, quite close to Sicily - definitely worth a trip!

[Karaba]

I'm little too north and there is nearly no Aristolochia arround my home.

Concerning A. pistolochia, a map is easier than a lot of words, so : http://siflore.fcbn.fr/?cd_ref=83791&r=metro
You may also have the distribution of the species you want 

[Darren]

My A. sempervirens has fruit developing, so I may be able to provide some seeds.

[aristoflora]

I'm little too north and there is nearly no Aristolochia arround my home.

Concerning A. pistolochia, a map is easier than a lot of words, so : http://siflore.fcbn.fr/?cd_ref=83791&r=metro
You may also have the distribution of the species you want 

Thank you very much for your map Karaba, it's really helpful! Please let me know when you come across an Aristolochia in your surrounding ...

My A. sempervirens has fruit developing, so I may be able to provide some seeds.

Darren, do you collect Aristolochia? From where did you get the A. sempervirens? Thank you very much for your offer, of course I would love to get some seeds if possible! Cuttings may also work with this species. Did you ever try it?

[Darren]

I would like to collect them as I find them fascinating! Sadly I only have sempervirens.

I got my sempervirens from Tynings Climbers here in the UK.

I have not tried cuttings yet. I got some seed last year, and it germinated and produced short root radicles, but rotted before developing further. Maybe you will have more luck

[johnralphcarpenter]

Take care! According to Wikipedia, " Aristolochia has been shown to be both a potent carcinogen and kidney toxin".

[Growild]

Cuttings are quite easy from A. sempervirens.

[aristoflora]

I would like to collect them as I find them fascinating! Sadly I only have sempervirens.

I got my sempervirens from Tynings Climbers here in the UK.

I have not tried cuttings yet. I got some seed last year, and it germinated and produced short root radicles, but rotted before developing further. Maybe you will have more luck

They are indeed beautiful oddities! I sometimes bring rarer european ones with me from holidays, but I recognized late that there are perennial ones beside the giant tropical vines and bushes. Therefore I found the first Aristolochia accidentially two years ago in southern Spain.

Unfortunately, Aristolochia species are often said to be really difficult to propagate. But if you have the right substrate mix, a root stimulator, high air humidity and a good air circulation they produce roots like every normal cutting ...

Well, it would be a pleasure for me to exchange with you - I'm looking for A. sempervirens now for a long time. Just contact me via PM and we can talk about details.

Take care! According to Wikipedia, " Aristolochia has been shown to be both a potent carcinogen and kidney toxin".

For everybody who doesn't know it yet: Aristolochia are NOT funny litte plants with protocarnivorous flowers, they can be really dangerous if ingested! Keep them well away from children or animals! I always use insulating gloves when I handle them. The dangerous substance is called Aristolochic acid and has even caused an epidemic in the 1950s-1970s in the Balkan region because local people had mixed seeds into their grain used for making bread.

The amount of Aristolochic acid in leaves & stems is very low (> 0,05%), in seeds up to 0,5 % and in the roots up to 1%. If you know this and handle the plants appropriately (and do not eat them  ), there is absolutely no reason to be insecure.

[aristoflora]

Here are some pictures of my Aristolochia from this year:

Aristolochia paucinervis



Aristolochia baetica


Aristolochia clusii


At the moment they are in dormancy, so nothing interesting to see anymore...

[fleurbleue]

http://www.alsagarden.com/fr/93-plantes-rares-rustiques for A. debilis seeds 

[aristoflora]

Aristolochia debilis is known for being a hardy species but originates from Asia

[Anthony Darby]

Aristolochias are the food plants for some European butterflies, e.g. Zerynthia spp. Some species of Aristolochia from New Guinea have even been named after the species of butterfly feeding on them.

[Gerhard Raschun]

There are A. sempervirens, A. guichardii, A. spec. ex Turkey, A. flava next to the common species A. clematitis, A. rotunda, A. debilis in my stock.

Sadly seeds of A. steupii have never germinated.

Three weeks ago a butterfly specialist has got all my surplus plants, so only a few single plants are for exchange left.