Brazilian dutchman’s pipe
It got its name because its flowers resemble old-fashioned curved tobacco pipes.
There are more than 500 different species of pipe vines, and the Brazilian duchman's pipe is the one that has the largest flowers, in fact, its flowers are among the largest flowers in the world.
The name pipevine is due to the funnel-shaped flowers that are bent and resemble tobacco pipes.
The flowers of the pipe vines are insect traps. They have a strong scent that attracts insects, which are lured to the bottom of the flower. Once an insect is inside the flower, it cannot crawl up again because downward-pointing hairs block the exit.
Only after the flower has been pollinated and has released its own pollen, the insect is released again. And then it can fly on and pollinate other flowers.
In addition to Brazilian dutchman’s pipe (Aristolochia gigantea) you can see elegant duchman's pipe (Aristolochia littoralis) and Bejuco de Santiago (Aristolochia trilobata) in this area.
Facts:
- Greenhouse location: Tropical house
- Danish name: Brasiliansk tobakspipeplante
- Latin name: Aristolochia gigantea
- Family: The birthwort family / Aristolochiaceae
- Natural habitat: Central and Sluth America