It is also reported as native to Argentina in Cordoba, Entre Rios, and Misiones, Bolivia, Columbia, Loja, Ecuador, Paraguay, and Peru. Fairly cold-tolerant vine with unusual blooms, butterfly larval plant. The name is derived from the Greek aristos, meaning best, and lochia, meaning delivery, because it was valued in child birthing and the resemblance of the shape of the flower as a human fetus in the womb. Slender woody climber, leaves triangular-reniform, to 3 inches long, flowers solitary, calyx tube inflated, to 1.5 inches long, yellow-green, limb nearly orbicular, entire, to 3 inches across, white veined with purple outside, rich purple-brown marked with white inside. This ornamental vine is cultivated in Hawaii and other tropical areas for its colorful and unique pipe shaped flowers that are usually pollinated by flies which are attracted to the carrion-like odor and to the purple and brown color of the flowers . It is a vigorous grower and is usually planted for shade, screening, and for unusual flowers. The vines are heavy and require strong support. It is also reported to have medicinal qualities. A. littoralis is known to spread from initial plantings in several places where it is cultivated, including Hawaii, Florida, South Africa, and other Pacific Islands.