(bird-footed) ribs. Stipulas none. Leafstalks nearly as long as 
the leaves. Flowers several together, from the bosom of each leaf, 
on simple stalks, upright, or hanging down, pale yellow, or butf- 
coloured, scentless. Capsule large, pendulous, somewhat inversely 
egg-shaped, concave at the summit, with 6 blunt lobes, and as many 
cells ; it very rarely comes to perfection. 
Sir J. E. Smith, in his Introduction to Botany, says, “ A very 
curious observation is recorded by Schreber and Willdenow con- 
cerning this plant. The stamens and pistils of this flower are in- 
closed in its globular base, the anthers being under the stigma, and 
by no means commodiously situated for conveying their pollen to it. 
This, therefore, is accomplished by an insect, the Tipula pennicor- 
nis , which enters the flower by the tubular part ; but that part being 
thickly lined with indexed hairs, though the fly enters easily, its re- 
turn is totally impeded, till the corolla fades, when the hairs lie flat 
against the sides, and allow the captive to escape. In the mean 
while the insect, continually struggling for liberty, and pacing his 
prison round and round, has brushed the pollen about the stigma. 
I do not doubt the accuracy of this account, though I have never 
caught the imprisoned Tipula. Indeed I have never seen any fruit 
formed by this plant.” — Introd. to Bot. ed. 5, p. 273. 
The first time I saw the Aristolochia ClematitisX was on the 12th 
of July, 1812, at Godstow. It was growing close to where part 
of the foundation of the Nunnery had then very recently been re- 
moved. On opening some of the flowers, for it was then in blossom, 
I found within the globular base of the tube several very minute 
winged insects, which proved, on examination, to be the Tipula 
pennicornis of LinNjEUS, which is said by Schreber and W ill- 
denow to be an auxilliary to the fertilization of the flower of this 
species. I have observed them in abundance in the flowers of the 
same species of Aristolochia, every year, for these last 20 years, in 
the Oxford Botanic Garden, where the plant always forms fruit, but 
the fruit very rarely comes to perfection. There were three or four 
fine ones produced in the autumn of 1832, one of which is repre- 
sented in the annexed plate, from a careful drawing by Mr. Isaac 
Russell, of Oxford. I do not know that it has ever before been 
represented in any work on British Botany. Sir J. E. Smith in- 
forms us, that he had “never seen any fruit formed by this plant 
neither had he ever seen the Tipula till I sent him specimens of it 
from the Oxford Garden, in August, 1813. 
This plant is by no means so plentiful at Godstow now, as it was 
20 years ago ; and the Botanist who wishes to find it there, must look 
for it in a hedge on the bank of a watery ditch close to that part of 
the ruins which is nearest to Wytham. W. B. January 23, 1833. 
t The root of Aristolochia is aromatic and bitter, but not ungrateful to the 
palate. It makes a considerable part of the Portland Powder, a medicine that 
has been in high repute as a cure lor the gout, but a long continued use of such 
medicine is said to be extremely hurtful, and often to produce effects more 
formidable than the original disease. As a warm, stimulating medicine, it still 
retains a place in some Pharmacopoeias. Great virtues were attributed to it by 
the ancients, as appears from the writings of DiosconrnES, Gaeen, and Plinv. 
An opinion is said to prevail in France, that the produce of vineyards in which 
this plant abounds, becomes deteiiorated in quality. — See With. Bot. Arr. and 
Puirr. Midi. F). 
