Dutchman's pipe
Aristolochia elegans
family
Aristolochiaceae
origin
Exotic
declaration
Category 3 Restricted Matter (Biosecurity Act 2014)
Must not be distributed or disposed. This means it must not be released into the environment unless the distribution or disposal is authorised in a regulation or under a permit.
Common names
Dutchman's pipe, Calico flower.
A climbing plant with slender twining stems and broad heart-shaped leaves. There is a small ear-shaped leafy structure at the base of each leaf stalk. Its unusual tubular flowers (up to 10 cm across) are cream and reddish-purple and have a broad heart-shaped opening. Its cylindrical capsules (4-6 cm long) have a short projection at their tips and split open from the top when mature. These fruit contain numerous tear-shaped seeds.
Impact
Impact
Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans) is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland and New South Wales, and as a potential environmental weed or "sleeper weed" in many other regions of Australia. It is of most concern in south-eastern Queensland, and it was recently ranked among the top 50 most invasive plants in this region. It is also regarded as a potentially serious environmental weed in north-eastern New South Wales. Like many other species of exotic vines, Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans) competes with and replaces native plants via its smothering growth. It readily invades dry rainforests, lowland rainforests and riparian vegetation, replacing native vines and preventing the growth and regeneration of other native plants. Community groups are trying to eradicate this plant from several environmentally significant locations in Queensland (e.g. in Burleigh Heads National Park).However, Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans) is more well known for its impact on the Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia). This butterfly is listed as a vulnerable species under Queensland legislation and the invasion of remnant habitat by Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans) is a serious contributing factor to its decline. Birdwing vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa), a similar plant that is native to northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, is the sole food plant of the Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia). This native vine is being replaced by Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans ) making it hard for the female adult butterflies to find. Because the exotic vine is so similar, the female butterflies are also fooled into laying their eggs on it. However, Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans ) is toxic to the larvae and when they hatch they are unable to feed and eventually perish. Therefore, removal of this weed is one of the primary strategies of the Richmond Birdwing Recovery Network. The larvae of other native butterflies are also known to perish on Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans), including the big greasy (Cressida cressida) and the red-bodied swallowtail (Pachlopta polydorus).
Location
Location
Characteristics
Characteristics
Similar Species
Similar Species
Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans) is regarded as an environmental weed in Queensland and New South Wales, and as a potential environmental weed or "sleeper weed" in many other regions of Australia. It is of most concern in south-eastern Queensland, and it was recently ranked among the top 50 most invasive plants in this region. It is also regarded as a potentially serious environmental weed in north-eastern New South Wales. Like many other species of exotic vines, Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans) competes with and replaces native plants via its smothering growth. It readily invades dry rainforests, lowland rainforests and riparian vegetation, replacing native vines and preventing the growth and regeneration of other native plants. Community groups are trying to eradicate this plant from several environmentally significant locations in Queensland (e.g. in Burleigh Heads National Park).However, Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans) is more well known for its impact on the Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia). This butterfly is listed as a vulnerable species under Queensland legislation and the invasion of remnant habitat by Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans) is a serious contributing factor to its decline. Birdwing vine (Pararistolochia praevenosa), a similar plant that is native to northern New South Wales and southern Queensland, is the sole food plant of the Richmond birdwing butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia). This native vine is being replaced by Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans ) making it hard for the female adult butterflies to find. Because the exotic vine is so similar, the female butterflies are also fooled into laying their eggs on it. However, Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans ) is toxic to the larvae and when they hatch they are unable to feed and eventually perish. Therefore, removal of this weed is one of the primary strategies of the Richmond Birdwing Recovery Network. The larvae of other native butterflies are also known to perish on Dutchman's pipe (Aristolochia elegans), including the big greasy (Cressida cressida) and the red-bodied swallowtail (Pachlopta polydorus).
