Aristolochia laotica (subgen. Siphisia), a new species from Northeastern Laos

Aristolochia laotica, a new species from Northeastern Laos, is described and illustrated here. The horseshoe-shaped perianth tube, the 3-lobed limb, and the 3-lobed gynostemium support its placement into Aristolochia subgenus Siphisia. Of the spe-cies with cylindric or saccate-shaped limb, the new species resembles A. vuquangensis. However, it differs from the latter by having an oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic leaf lamina with a truncate to shallowly cordate base, pinnate veins, sparsely brown hirsute to glabrescent perianth, uniformly purple inner surface of utricle, indistinct, straight, strongly inflated limb lobes, and pubescent and warty inner surface of the limb lobes. Detailed description, color illustrations, and remarks on ecology, conservation status are also provided, along with a key to species reported in Laos and comparison with its similar species.

Automated summary

This article describes and illustrates a new species, Aristolochia laotica, from Northeastern Laos. The morphological characteristics of the species are described in detail and compared with other similar species. Remarks on ecology and conservation status are provided, along with a comparison with other species reported in Laos.