Where can I find Indian Birthwort (Dutchman's Pipe)?

[simon43]

I've been planting certain plant species in my garden to attract butterflies. One butterfly that I want to attract is the large Common Birdwing, a striking yellow and black butterfly that is on the CITES list of endangered species.

In fact, I can usually spot this butterfly once a day as it flies through my garden. The caterpillars feed on a single type of food plant ==> Indian Birthwort (commonly called Dutchman's Pipe).

Here is a link to photos of the food plant:

https://www.google.com/search?q=indian+birthwort&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=sAKtU4XKMdG9ugTYqoCQDg&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&biw=734&bih=329

The fact that I see this butterfly on a daily basis suggests that the food plant is in my locality, but I have been unable to spot any plants during my walks in the area.

I even walked up to Bang Pae waterfall and tried to spot this butterfly or the food plant, but saw neither. (Actually, I saw more species of butterfly in my own back garden than I saw in the national park...).

I've checked in a few garden centres, but none stock Indian Birthwort.

Can anyone suggest where I might buy a plant or two for my garden?

Simon

[Oziex1]

Try this link Simon

The Phuket Butterfly Garden might have some info for you if you're lucky.

http://www.phuketbutterfly.com/

[KarenBravo]

I also see a lot of these butterflies in my garden. They seem to like feeding on Ixora flowers.

It's hard trying to ask for a plant as the Thais have their own name for everything. Unless you yourself actually see it, it's hard to find anything by name.

Suggest you print some of the photos and take them round the nurseries.

[keestha]

According to Wikipedia: Buddleja, or Buddleia commonly known as the butterfly bush is a genus comprising over 100 species of flowering plants endemic to Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Brings back childhood memories. My parents had one in the garden, and it attracted loads of butterflies indeed. Would like to have one...... But it is not the plant Simon is looking for.

[Guest]

Simon: Select one of those plants on the link, which is the one you are looking for and post the image here. At least to my eye, there google image search displayed variety of plants with different leafs.

I also have those yellow butterflies flying around my home.

[simon43]

This is a photo of the plant that I'm looking for:

It tends to climb like a vine around the base of trees and bushes. The flowers look rather like a tube before they open, and purple in colour when open.

Now, I have definitely seen this plant in Phuket over the years, but I cannot recall seeing it in my locality, (but due to the daily presence of Birdwing butterflies, I am sure it is there!).

I took a long, slow walk in the national park this morning, but did not see this plant.

There are some other areas that I can search tomorrow, but since blowing myself up with the gas stove 2 days ago, I'm still swathed in bandages and tend to scare the locals...

[cooked]

According to Wikipedia: Buddleja, or Buddleia commonly known as the butterfly bush is a genus comprising over 100 species of flowering plants endemic to Asia, Africa, and the Americas.

Brings back childhood memories. My parents had one in the garden, and it attracted loads of butterflies indeed. Would like to have one...... But it is not the plant Simon is looking for.

Buddleia davidii as pictured here is a black hole for butterflies. They are attracted to it, lay their eggs on it. When the larvae emerge they have nothing to eat and die. One of these every 30 meters wipes out butterfly populations and so people plant even more. I organised and animated an exhibition in Switzerland about this terrible weed and had difficulty explaining the problems involved, people don't want to know. Let's hope it won't grow in Thailand, the reference to Asia refers to China and Japan.

There are plenty of other plants that attract butterflies, just google 'butterfly plants Thailand.

Dutchman's pipe refers to Aristolachia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristolochia_gigantea

Edited June 27, 2014 by cooked

[simon43]

Dutchman's pipe refers to Aristolachia,

It is also commonly used to refer to several different plants, including Indian Birthwort.

[cooked]

Oh, google it man.

[simon43]

Oh, google it man.

No idea to whom you comment is directed. Google what?

[cooked]

Oh, google it man.

No idea to whom you comment is directed. Google what?

dutchman's pipe. = Aristolachia. I don't know everything but my years in a botanical garden did teach me one or two things. The name refers to the shape of the flower's shape, a pipe, which Buddleia completely lacks. Indian Birthwort is an member of the Aristolachias.

[simon43]

Indian Birthwort is an member of the Aristolachias.

Yes I know! The only person to mention Buddleia was you.....

I am not looking for Buddleia. As per my OP, I am looking for Indian Birthwort, sometimes known as Dutchman's Pipe. I never mentioned Buddleia.

[cooked]

Indian Birthwort is an member of the Aristolachias.

Yes I know! The only person to mention Buddleia was you.....

I am not looking for Buddleia. As per my OP, I am looking for Indian Birthwort, sometimes known as Dutchman's Pipe. I never mentioned Buddleia.

Wasn't

[keestha]

Gentlemen, you are squabbling about nothing. I was the one dragging Buddleia into the discussion and thereby sidetracking it.

Since nobody seems to know where to get Simon's Indian Birthwort, does anybody know about a butterfly attracting plant which is commonly available in Thai nurseries?

[simon43]

In fact, I apologise to Cooked for my error - it was indeed Keestha who brought up the subject of Buddleia - apologies again.

Apart from still seeking out Indian Birthwort, I want to plant other butterfly-attracting plants in my garden.

As a child (many years ago), I collected butterflies and enjoyed identifying them from the excellent 'Field Guide to the Butterflies of Britain & Europe'.

I recently bought the equivalent book for Thailand

http://www.malaeng.com/blog/?page_id=7

which is almost 1,000 pages of colour illustrations and data about butterflies from this country.

It is my sighting of Common Birdwings and large Raja butterflies that has encouraged me to cultivate my rural garden to attract many species of butterfly and insects.

Simon

Edited June 29, 2014 by simon43