Convolvulus arvensis
Encyclopedia
Convolvulus arvensis is a species of bindweed
, native to Europe
and Asia
. It is a climbing or creeping herbaceous
perennial plant
growing to 0.5–2 m high. The leaves
are spirally arranged, linear to arrowhead-shaped, 2–5 cm long and alternate, with a 1–3 cm petiole. The flower
s are trumpet-shaped, 1-2.5 cm diameter, white or pale pink, with five slightly darker pink radial stripes. Flowering occurs in the mid-summer, when white to pale pink, funnel-shaped flowers develop. Flowers are approximately 0.75-1 in. (1.9-2.5 cm) across and are subtended by small bracts. Fruit are light brown, rounded and 1/8 in. (0.3 cm) wide. Each fruit contains 2 seeds that are eaten by birds and can remain viable in the soil for decades.
There are two varieties
:
Although it produces attractive flowers, it is often unwelcome in gardens as a nuisance weed
due to its rapid growth and choking of cultivated plants. It was most likely was introduced into North America
as a contaminant in crop seed as early as 1739, as an invasive species
. Plants typically inhabit roadsides, grasslands and also along streams. Its dense mats invade agricultural fields and reduce crop yields; it is estimated that crop losses due to this plant in the United States exceeded US$377 million in the year 1998 alone.
Other common names, mostly obsolete, include lesser bindweed, European bindweed, withy wind (in basket willow crops), perennial morning glory
, smallflowered morning glory, creeping jenny, and possession vine. It is called leli in Punjabi
.
In one of the tales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Our Lady's Little Glass, this flower is used by Our Lady to drink wine with when she helps free a wagoner's cart. The story goes on to say that "the little flower is still always called Our Lady's Little Glass."
Ecological Impacts: Field bindweed intertwines and topples native species. It competes with other
species for sunlight, moisture and nutrients. It poses threats to restoration
efforts and riparian corridors by choking out grasses and forbs. It can decrease
habitat biodiversity. It is one of the most serious weeds of agricultural fields in
temperate regions of the world.
Toxicity: Mildly toxic to grazing animals
Control and Management: Field bindweed is difficult to eradicate because the seeds remain viable in
soil for up to 20 years. One plant can produce up to 500 seeds. The deep, extensive root system
stores carbohydrates and proteins and allows it to sprout repeatedly from fragments and rhizomes
following removal of aboveground growth.
before seeds set
paper, straw, wood chips, or black plastic can be effective in certain areas
Convlvulus.
References:
Bindweed
Bindweed may refer to:* Convolvulaceae , a family including about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species** Calystegia , a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants...
, native to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. It is a climbing or creeping herbaceous
Herbaceous
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
perennial plant
Perennial plant
A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives for more than two years. The term is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter lived annuals and biennials. The term is sometimes misused by commercial gardeners or horticulturalists to describe only herbaceous perennials...
growing to 0.5–2 m high. The leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
are spirally arranged, linear to arrowhead-shaped, 2–5 cm long and alternate, with a 1–3 cm petiole. The flower
Flower
A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...
s are trumpet-shaped, 1-2.5 cm diameter, white or pale pink, with five slightly darker pink radial stripes. Flowering occurs in the mid-summer, when white to pale pink, funnel-shaped flowers develop. Flowers are approximately 0.75-1 in. (1.9-2.5 cm) across and are subtended by small bracts. Fruit are light brown, rounded and 1/8 in. (0.3 cm) wide. Each fruit contains 2 seeds that are eaten by birds and can remain viable in the soil for decades.
Variety (biology)
In botanical nomenclature, variety is a taxonomic rank below that of species: as such, it gets a three-part infraspecific name....
:
- Convolvulus arvensis var. arvensis. Leaves broader.
- Convolvulus arvensis var. linearifolius. Leaves narrower.
Although it produces attractive flowers, it is often unwelcome in gardens as a nuisance weed
Weed
A weed in a general sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in human-controlled settings, especially farm fields and gardens, but also lawns, parks, woods, and other areas. More specifically, the term is often used to...
due to its rapid growth and choking of cultivated plants. It was most likely was introduced into North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
as a contaminant in crop seed as early as 1739, as an invasive species
Invasive species
"Invasive species", or invasive exotics, is a nomenclature term and categorization phrase used for flora and fauna, and for specific restoration-preservation processes in native habitats, with several definitions....
. Plants typically inhabit roadsides, grasslands and also along streams. Its dense mats invade agricultural fields and reduce crop yields; it is estimated that crop losses due to this plant in the United States exceeded US$377 million in the year 1998 alone.
Other common names, mostly obsolete, include lesser bindweed, European bindweed, withy wind (in basket willow crops), perennial morning glory
Morning glory
Morning glory is a common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, whose current taxonomy and systematics is in flux...
, smallflowered morning glory, creeping jenny, and possession vine. It is called leli in Punjabi
Punjabi language
Punjabi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by inhabitants of the historical Punjab region . For Sikhs, the Punjabi language stands as the official language in which all ceremonies take place. In Pakistan, Punjabi is the most widely spoken language...
.
In one of the tales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Our Lady's Little Glass, this flower is used by Our Lady to drink wine with when she helps free a wagoner's cart. The story goes on to say that "the little flower is still always called Our Lady's Little Glass."
Ecological Impacts: Field bindweed intertwines and topples native species. It competes with other
species for sunlight, moisture and nutrients. It poses threats to restoration
efforts and riparian corridors by choking out grasses and forbs. It can decrease
habitat biodiversity. It is one of the most serious weeds of agricultural fields in
temperate regions of the world.
Toxicity: Mildly toxic to grazing animals
Control and Management: Field bindweed is difficult to eradicate because the seeds remain viable in
soil for up to 20 years. One plant can produce up to 500 seeds. The deep, extensive root system
stores carbohydrates and proteins and allows it to sprout repeatedly from fragments and rhizomes
following removal of aboveground growth.
- Manual- Discing, tilling or hand pulling
- Chemical- Apply herbicide 2,4-D or glyphosate (Roundup); applications that trans-locate to roots,
before seeds set
- Other approaches: Research suggests that shading will help control this species; mulching using
paper, straw, wood chips, or black plastic can be effective in certain areas
- Natural Enemies: Eight fungi and ten arthropods have been found on members of the genus
Convlvulus.
References:
- www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/conarv/all.html
- www.plantatlas.usf.edu/images.asp?plantID=1755
- http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi?earl=noxious.cgi
- Invasive Plants of Asia Origin Established in the US and their Natural Enemies p. 58-59
- WSSA-1,000 Weeds of North America: An Identification Guide
- ELEMENT STEWARDSHIP ABSTRACT- http://tncweeds.ucdavis.edu/esadocs/documnts/convarv.rtf
- Federal Noxious Weed Disseminules in the US -
- www.lucidcentral.org/keys/FNW/FNW%20seeds/html/fact%20sheets/Convolvulus%20arvensis.htm