European birthwort
aristolochia clematitis latin

"Birthwort" (e.g. European birthwort A. clematitis) refers to these species' flower shape, resembling a birth canal.

Furthermore, it appears as if contamination of grain with European Birthwort (A. clematitis) is a cause of Balkan nephropathy, a severe renal disease occurring in parts of southeast Europe.

In the Balkan region, dietary aristolochic acid exposure may come from Aristolochia clematitis, or European birthwort, a plant native to the endemic region, and its seeds may comingle with wheat used for bread.

Aristolochia clematitis (I)

It is also possible that Ochratoxin is not the cause of this nephropathy, and many authors are in favor of Aristolochic acid, that is contained in a plant: birthwort (Aristolochia clematitis).