| the plant family Aristolochiaceae, typified by mostly tropical woody vines and herbaceous plants, having alternate, heart-shaped leaves and flowers lacking true petals but having three petallike sepals, and including the birthwort, Dutchman's-pipe, and wild ginger. |
| birthwort family | |
noun | |
| family of birthworts (including wild ginger) [syn: Aristolochiaceae] |