Widely distributed from the Himalaya to Sri Lanka through South East Asia (includes Myanmar, Indonesia, Indochina, and Thailand) and China, to Oceania (includes the whole of Malaysia, the Solomon Islands and Queensland in Australia), Aristolochia acuminata, a vigorous vine with long narrow flowers resembling pipes is commonly known as Dutchman’s pipe. The species can be found in forests and open lowland thickets, climbing over bushes and trees.
The species is used medicinally. The Malays pound the leaves, apply it to the head to treat fever. In Indonesia, poultice are made with leaves of the species; it is applied to the swollen abdomen or limbs. In the Philippines, snake bites and malaria is treated with the plant. In India, the roots are considered a tonic, carminative and emmenagogue. In Hong Kong, this species is under protection.
The flower of this gorgous plant looks like a smoke pipe, hence the common name Dutchman's pipe.
The fruit is dehiscent capsule with many endospermic seeds.
When ripens, the seed pod opens into a shape like parachute. The seeds are feathery light with wing-like structure which enables it to sweep off with the wind.
This is the host plant for the Common Birdwing (Troides helena cerberus) butterfly. It is flourishing in Oh' Farms. Though well grown and taken care of , this 2-year-old plant hasn't contributed much to the belly of our caterpillars.
Eggs of Common Birdwing were spotted on the leaves of the Dutchman's pipe after so many years. Not many were found though. 
At the same time, a couple of caterpillars of different instars were spotted.
Unfortunately, a chameleon was spotted at the same time nearby, lurking around, waiting to devour.
This is another type of Aristolochia family vine, Aristolochia grandiflora - a host plant to the Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae asteris) but not the Common Birdwing.
The flower has a heart-shaped faces about 12 inches long with a width of 8 inches. It has a rich purple blotches and veins cover the creamy white face of the flower which runs into a deep purple at the heart of the flower. At the tip of the flower, there is a slender tail of about 12'" long hangs from the flower. The flower gives off an odour that humans consider unpleasant but attractive to insects.
Due to the appearance of its opened flowers, it is known commonly as the Pelican Flower. It is sometimes also called the Duck Flower because of the shape of its buds.
It is indeed a sad turn of events, both the Common Birdwing and Common Rose have not been very easily sighted nowadays, especially the Common Rose . Hopefully, with the increase of this host plants around the island there will be more sightings of these butterflies !