Aristolochia sericea Blanco

Erect shrubby plant up to c. 0.5 m high. Stem terete, c. 3 mm ø, densely pubescent, glabrescent. Leaves thin-chartaceous or membranous, lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, 7-15 by 2-5 cm; apex acuminate; base slightly or shallowly cordate, sometimes the sinus up to 5 (-10) mm deep, rarely obtuse; sparsely shortly hairy above, hairy especially dense on the venation beneath; basal nerves 2 pairs, inner pair reaching c. ⅓ of the blade, similar to the lateral nerves, outer pair weaker and very short, close to the margin; lateral nerves c. 5 pairs, rather faint beneath, faint or obscure above; petiole 2-5 mm, densely hairy. Flowers few (one developing at a time), on very short, bracteate rachides (less than 10 mm long) in axils of foliage leaves; bracts lanceolate or elliptic, 3-4 mm, rarely leafy up to 20 mm long, shortly hairy on both surfaces. Pedicel and ovary 4.5-5 mm, densely hairy. Perianth straight, sometimes slightly curved, reticulation rather distinct, hairy outside; utricle ovoid or ellipsoid, 2.5-5 by 2-2.5 mm, with a distinct stipe (1.5-2 mm) dilated at the base as a cap on top of the ovary, hairy inside, with 2 glandular, ellipsoid bodies (c. 0.6 mm long); tube 5-10 by 1 mm, with short, glandular hairs inside; limb 1-lipped, oblong, 11-15 by 3-4.5 mm, acute or acuminate. Stamens 6; anthers ellipsoid, c. 0.6 mm long. Style column c. 0.7 mm long, 6-lobed; lobes lanceolate, c. 1 mm, with an annular ring at the base. Capsules subglobose, c. 1 cm ø, densely hairy, usually glabrescent. Seeds triangular, c. 2.5 by 1.5 mm, not winged, verrucose on both surfaces; funicle with membranous extension covering the upper surface.

In dry thickets at low and medium altitudes up to 350 m. Fl. Aug., Dec; fr. April, May, July, Aug., Dec.

Uses. The entire fresh plant is used as a carminative, emmenagogue and febrifuge. The root, macerated in local spirituous liquors, is administered postpartum as a uterine tonic; this drug is said to be a violent abortive ( QUISUMBING Medic. Pl. Philip. 1951 255 ).

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings. Seeds needs soaking.