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The Pelican flower (Aristolochia grandiflora) belongs to Aristolochiaceae (the Birthwort family). It is a deciduous perennial herb that is distributed from Mexico to Central America and the West Indies. It grows along rivers and other places, and its thin, vine-like stems grow by twining around other trees and plants. The leaves are thin, large, heart-shaped, and alternate. Flowers are borne in the axils of the leaves and are about 30 cm long with long, thin tails hanging down. The throat is blackish purple. The flowers have a foul odor and are a food plant for butterfly larvae. It is called "Pelican-bana" in Japanese.
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