Thulin, M. (1993) Aristolochiaceae in Flora of Somalia 1: 29-30
Plants erect, twining, or scrambling perennial herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate, without stipules. palmately veined, entire or 3-7-lobed, usually with cordate bases. Inflorescences axillary, of solitary flowers, or racemose, or clustered. Flowers bisexual, radially or bilaterally symmetric; perianths elongate, tubular, bases adnate to the ovaries, variously bent, unusally inflated around the styles, hairy inside, narrowed at the throat; limb entire or lobed; stamens usually 6 or more; anthers sessile, adnate to the styl; ovaries usually 6-celled; styles short. Capsules septicidally dehiscent with 6 valves; seeds compressed, often winged.
Aristolochia includes 400-450 species. It is best represented in the tropics and subtropics, but a few species grown in temperate regions.