One of my favorite vines... actually, all vines are my favorites ;-)
The flowers of Aristolochia gigantea are simply amazing, deep red and cream with a bright yellow center.
Large ovals looking like marbled steak meat, but no, they do not attract flies nor do the flowers have a bad fragrance.
The leaves are perfectly heart-shaped and with the pendulous flowers the runners sure looks like a summer garland
The back of the flower is just as interesting
the common name is Dutchman's pipe, I guess the flower bud resembles a pipe?
The seed pods are little hanging baskets, filled with seeds
This variety serves as host plant for the Polydamas Swallowtail (or Gold-Rim Swallowtail). I read it is poisonous to the Pipevine Swallowtail. I never saw a Pipevine Swallowtail on my plant but it supports hundreds of Gold Rims each year.
The caterpillar soon to be a Gold Rim Swallowtail
The, oh so alien looking, pupa
A Gold Rim on purple Porterweed, the only tail-less Swallowtail in the US
They don't hold still making it hard for me to get a good picture :-/
very interesting and beautiful!! great shots!!
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