kids encyclopedia robot

Aristolochia serpentaria facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Aristolochia serpentaria
Aristolochia serpentaria.jpg
Scientific classification
Genus:
Aristolochia
Species:
serpentaria
Synonyms
  • A. convolvulacea Small
  • A. hastata Nutt.
  • A. nashii Kearney
  • A. serpentaria L.
      var. hastata (Nutt.) Duch.
  • A. serpentaria L.
      var. nashii (Kearney) H.E. Ahles
  • Endodeca serpentaria (L.) Raf.
      var. hastata (Nutt.) C.F. Reed

Aristolochia serpentaria is a species of perennial flowering plant in the Aristolochiaceae (birthwort) family. The species is commonly known as Virginia snakeroot and is native to eastern North America, from Connecticut to southern Michigan and south to Texas and Florida.

Description and Ecology

They have pipe-shaped flowers and heart-shaped leaves. It is a larval host to the pipevine swallowtail and the polydamas swallowtail.

Protection

Virginia snakeroot is considered an endangered species in New York, where no reports of the species were made for the century between 1895 and 1994, when it was rediscovered in the Hudson Highlands. Since then, other scattered populations have been observed in the state.

The plant is also rare in Connecticut, where it is on that state's list of species of special concern. In Michigan, its status is "Threatened."

kids search engine
Aristolochia serpentaria Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.