Dutchman’s pipevine, Aristolchia macrophylla, is
named for the oddly shape of the flower.This species mostly ranges further north while a second species, Woolly
Dutchman’s pipevine, A.
tomentosa, is more common here where it is often found hanging from trees
along river banks where they may be mistaken for kudzu, Pueraria, due to a similar appearance from a distance. Pipevines are also related
to Virginia
snakeroot, A.serpentaria, which is herbacous rather than woody. The stem of pipevine is course and stringy,
the simple leaves are cordate (heart shaped) unlike the trifolate leave of kudzu, and the fruits look like plush green
pickles that are full of flat triangular seeds reminiscent of Yucca seed. The most interesting thing is that pipevines are
the host species for pipevine butterfly larva.
