Common Name:

General Information

Aristolochia albida is a perennial climbing plant, usually with herbaceous stems but sometimes becoming more woody, especially near the base, and persisting[]. The unpleasant smelling stems, which twine around other plants for support, are usually less than 3 metres long but can be up to 10 metres[, ].
The root and leaves are harvested from wild plants for local medicinal use[, ]. The root is sold in local markets[].

Known Hazards

The plant is said to be poisonous to sheep and goats[]

Botanical References

,

Range

Tropical Africa - drier areas from Senegal to Ethiopia, south to Angola and Mozambique.

Habitat

Forest grassland, clearings and edges, riverine forest, scrub and bushland, also as a weed in waste places and sisal plantations from sea level to elevations of 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the tropics, growing in areas that have a distinct dry season.

The root merits further investigation into its pharmacological activity[].
The flowers of many species in this genus form an intricate trap for pollinating insects. The insects are tempted to an area of the flower where they are unable to grip and they slide down into the utricle - downward pointing hairs prevent them climbing out[]. The trap helps to ensure the fertilization of the flowers and the insects are eventually released[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bitter tasting root is used as a tonic and stomachic, and also as a treatment for Guinea worms[, ]. The ground rootstock is an ingredient in a remedy for colds[]. The root, mixed with lime-juice, is given in cases of snake-bite, scorpion-stings, etc[].
To get rid of guinea-worm, the leaf may be applied on its own, or a poultice composed of the powdered root with the seeds of cress (Lepidium sativum), garlic (Allium sativum) and native natron[]. An infusion of the same mixture is drunk at the same time[].

An infusion of the dried leaves, sometimes with dried root added, is used as an anthelmintic[].
The leaf is applied to certain (unspecified) painful skin-diseases, and crushed and mixed with castor-oil is applied topically on pimples[].

The plant (part not specified) is used as a medicine for treating malaria[].

In local medicine the root of this species is probably sometimes confused with that of Cissampelos (Menispermaceae), and also appears to be interchangeable with A. bracteolata[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -

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