Bracteated birthwort
Aristolochia bracteolata

Family: Aristolochiaceae

What it is like

A herb that lies along the ground. It keeps growing from year to year. It has an unpleasant smell. The leaves are 1.5-3 cm long and oval but spear shaped at the base. The flowers have large bracts.

The Aristolochiaceae are mostly tropical and subtropical. There are about 350-500 Aristolochia species. Chemical composition (flower): Protein (crude) = 12.4% (dry). Fat = 5.6% (dry). Fibre (crude) = 23.0% (dry). Ash (insoluble) = 6.9% (dry). Carbohydrate (soluble): Starch = 2.4% (dry). Sucrose = 0.7% (dry). D-glucose = 0.9% (dry). D-fructose = 0.7% (dry). Amino acids (g [16g N]-1): Aspartic acid = 7.2g. Threonine = 3.1g. Serine = 3.1g. Glutamic acid = 9.1g. Proline = 8.3g. Glycine = 4.1g. Alanine = 3.7g. Valine = 4.1g. Cysteine = 0.7g. Methionine = 1.1g. Isoleucine = 2.8g. Leucine = 4.8g. Tyrosine = 2.5g. Phenylalanine = 3.0g. lysine = 5.0g. Histidine = 1.5g. Arginine = 6.5g. Minerals: Sulphur = 0.20% (dry). Potassium = 0.27% (dry). Magnesium = 0.48% (dry). Calcium = 1.14% (dry). Na = 0.01% (dry). K = 1.42% (dry). Zinc = 24 mg/kg-1 (dry). Iron = 365 mg/kg-1 (dry). Copper = 10 mg/kg-1 (dry).

Where it is found

A tropical plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, East Africa, Ethiopia, India, Middle East, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sudan

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Flowers - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Adumuttada-gida, Aduthina-palai, Aulosa, Boro, Dhumra-patra, Jufa, Kidamari, Kidemar, Kiramar, Paniri, Um-glaigla

Synonyms

Aristolochia abyssinica Klotzsch; Aristolochia bracteata Retz.; Aristolochia crenata Ehrenb. ex Duch.; Aristolochia kotschyi Hichst. ex A. Rich.; Aristolochia mauritiana Pers.;