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Aristolochia clusii Lojac.
Name
Italian Birthwort
Habit
perennial herb < 0,8 m, tuberous, irregularly elongated taproot
Inflorescence
3-5 cm, odour barely noticeable
Origin
Italy (mainland & Sicily), Malta
Seeds
thick-shelled, compressed triangular, large elaiosome,
stratification 1-3 years
Aristolochia clusii is a very showy species but appears to be heavily neglected in cultivation.
The flowers can reach a size of 5 cm or more which is quite large for a Southern mediterranean species.
After years, the elongated underground stem turns into a massive storage organ of more than 1 m length and as thick as a human forearm if provided the space and sufficient nutrients.
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