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Aristolochia serpentaria (Virginia snakeroot)
Knight, Marilyn McBroom

Aristolochia serpentaria

Aristolochia serpentaria L.

Virginia Snakeroot, Virginia Dutchmanspipe

Aristolochiaceae (Birthwort Family)

Synonym(s): Aristolochia convolvulacea, Aristolochia hastata, Aristolochia nashii, Aristolochia serpentaria var. hastata, Aristolochia serpentaria var. nashii, Endodeca serpentaria, Endodeca serpentaria var. hastata

USDA Symbol: ARSE3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

 

From the Image Gallery

24 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Root Type: Tap
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate
Leaf Venation: Pinnate
Leaf Pubescence: Glabrous
Leaf Margin: Entire
Leaf Apex: Acuminate , Acute
Leaf Base: Truncate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Climber, up to about 2 feet tall.
Flower: Flowers 3/4 inch
Fruit: 1-2 cm

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Purple , Brown
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MD , MI , MO , MS , NC , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , SC , TN , TX , VA , WV
Native Habitat: Stream banks, Flood plains, bottomland

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Showy, Ground cover
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Pipevine swallowtail butterfly.

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Pipevine Swallowtail
(Battus philenor)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU UPL FACU UPL UPL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Aristolochia serpentaria in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Aristolochia serpentaria in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Aristolochia serpentaria

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-11-23
Research By: TWC Staff

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