Morning-glories and bindweeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stems of the major part of these plants are winding or twining around other plants, or anything upright, hence the family name, derived from the Latin convolvere (‘to wind’ or ‘to wrap’ (around)), ultimately from con (‘with’) and volvo (‘to roll’).

In his delightful book All about Weeds, American botanist Edwin Spencer (1881-1964) writes: “The vines wind themselves around the growing cornstalks, soy beans, cotton plants, and even around weeds that should be able to cope with such weak little plants as the morning glories seem to be. But they are not weak. Like snakes, those slender vines crawl up over the plants they select for their trellises, and soon the big morning glory leaves are shading the leaves of the trellising plants, and very soon after that those glorious flowers will be smiling on all the world like a big woman obstructing the view of a small boy at the movies.”

Fruits of most genera in this family are capsules, but a number of species produce berries or nuts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The meaning of the generic name is explained above.

 

While most bindweeds twine around other plants, this species is often growing along the ground. It is native to temperate and subtropical areas of the Old World, from Ireland eastwards to eastern Siberia, and from Scandinavia and Siberia southwards to northern Africa, India, and northern Indochina. It has been accidentally introduced to many other parts of the world, where it easily becomes naturalized, and has become invasive in many places. This issue is described on the page Nature: Invasive species.

In America, where this plant is mainly known as Creeping Jenny, many of its popular names allude to its invasive nature. Edwin Spencer (see above) says: “Creeping Jenny is one of the meanest of weeds. That name aptly describes it. A whispering little hussy that creeps in and spoils everything. The weed needs no other name than this, but it has several others (…) hedge bells, corn-lily, withwind, bellbine, lap-love, sheep-bine, corn-bind, bear-bind, and green vine.”

The specific name is derived from the Latin arvus (‘cultivated’), thus ‘growing in cultivated fields’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stems to 8 cm tall, leaves sparsely hairy, linear or spatulate, pointed, to 2 cm long and 4 mm wide. Flowers terminal, to 2.5 cm across, usually solitary, sometimes in few-flowered clusters, corolla rose-pink.

It grows on stony open slopes and grasslands, at altitudes between 750 and 2,100 m.

The specific name refers to Assyria, a Semitic kingdom, which existed c. 2500-600 B.C., centered around what is today northern Iraq and Syria.

 

 

 

 

 

This plant is native in southern Europe, northern Africa, Ukraine, southern European Russia, and the Middle East, eastwards to Iran and Afghanistan, growing on calcareous soils in dry grasslands, woods, and rocky places, and along roads, from sea level up to altitudes around 1,700 m.

The specific name refers to Cantabria, an autonomous region in the Basque Country, northern Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stems are trailing, rarely twining, sometimes shrubby below, up to 2.5 m long, leaves usually stalked, to 8 cm long and 6 cm wide, very variable in form, usually linear or narrowly oblong, with prominent linear basal ears, but occasionally ovate or rounded with rounded ears, tip usually pointed, margin entire or wavy. The stalked flowers are solitary or 2 together, growing from the leaf axils, sepals to 9 mm long and 7 mm wide, elliptic, ending in a short spine, corolla to 2.5 cm long, various shades of pink or pale violet with a white centre, occasionally completely white, with very shallow lobes, with a short spine at the tip.

 

 

 

 

 

It is distributed in northern Africa, and from southern Greece and Cyprus eastwards across the Middle East to Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, growing in various habitats, including sandy areas, rocky slopes, roadsides, and fallow fields, from sea level to elevations around 1,000 m.

The specific name is derived from Ancient Greek doryknion, a term used by Greek physician, pharmacologist, and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides (died 90 A.D.) for a species of bindweed, possibly C. oleaefolius.

 

 

 

 

 

A prostrate plant, densely covered in short hairs, leaves stalked, broadly ovate, base heart-shaped, tip blunt or pointed, margin wavy, with rounded or sharp teeth. Flowers to 3.5 cm across, axillary, solitary or in 2-4-flowered clusters, corolla pink or purple, or a combination, with white throat.

The specific name refers to Galatia, a province of Ancient Rome, situated in what is today central Turkey.

 

 

 

 

 

This species is distributed from Egypt southwards to Somalia, and from Syria southwards through the Arabian Peninsula to Yemen and Oman.

Traditionally, the root was used by Ancient Egyptians and Arabs as a purgative.

The specific name is the Ancient Greek word for porcupines, naturally referring to the sharp spines.

 

 

 

 

 

It is endemic to Turkey, growing in grasslands and open pine forests, at altitudes between 850 and 1,200 m.

The specific name refers to Phrygia, a kingdom in the western part of Anatolia, reaching its peak around 700 B.C.

 

 

 

 

 

A spreading plant with prostrate or ascending stems, to 60 cm long. Leaves to 4.5 cm long, basal ones oblanceolate or spatulate, upper ones ovate, oblong, or oblanceolate. The long-stalked flowers are solitary, growing from the leaf axils, sepals to 5 mm long, corolla funnel-shaped, to 5 cm across, tri-coloured, blue or violet along the margin, with white towards the centre, and a yellow eye.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek kalyx (‘cup’) and stegos (‘covering’), thus ‘a covering cup’, referring to the shape of the calyx.

Formerly, these plants were included in the genus Convolvulus, which they closely resemble, only differing in minute botanical characters.

 

The stem is twining in a counter-clockwise direction, reaching a length of up to 3 m. The leaves are alternate, dull green above, paler below, arrow-shaped, simple, to 10 cm long and 7 cm wide, flowers trumpet-shaped, to 7 cm long, white in most subspecies, although an American subspecies, americana, has a white and pink corolla, much like the cultivated hairy bindweed (C. pulchra). It is distributed across southern Canada and the eastern half of the United States, replaced by other subspecies further west.

Due to its vigorous growth, hedge bindweed is regarded as a pest in many places.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘growing in hedges’, alluding to this plant being common in hedges. Folk names include old man’s nightcap, white witch’s hat, belle of the ball, bride’s gown, and wedlock, all alluding to the white, gown-like flowers, the latter name also to the binding nature of the species.

In the old days, children in Britain would ‘pop’ the petals from the sepals while chanting, “Granny, granny – pop out of bed.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This species is a native around the Mediterranean and Black Seas, but is often cultivated as an ornamental and has escaped in many places, especially Australia and New Zealand, where it is regarded as an invasive plant. It grows in shrubberies, hedges, and forest margins, from sea level to elevations up to 1,500 m.

According to Kew Gardens, ssp. orientalis occurs in China, and ssp. fraterniflora in North America. I find it quite puzzling that populations of this plant should be distributed so far apart. They may be 3 different species.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name, derived from Ancient Greek ip (‘worm’) and hómoia (‘resembling’), was applied by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) in allusion to the worm-like movements of the stem, which twines around other plants, fences, etc.

 

As its name implies, it grows in water, or sometimes on moist soil. The stems, which are hollow and able to float, root at the nodes, often growing more than 3 m long, leaves variable, arrow-shaped or lanceolate, to 15 cm long and 8 cm broad, flowers trumpet-shaped, to 5 cm across, usually white with a mauve centre, sometimes completely white.

This species is cultivated in many tropical and subtropical areas for its tender shoots and leaves, known by names like water spinach, river spinach, Chinese spinach, Chinese watercress, and swamp cabbage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The plant is a climber, but the stems are usually creeping along the ground, rooting at the nodes, and growing to 4 m long. The long-stalked, alternate leaves are very variable, to 13 cm long, blade elliptic, heart- or kidney-shaped, rounded, triangular, or spear-shaped, margin entire, toothed, or lobed, tip rounded or pointed, leaf colour mostly green, sometimes purple. The flowers are single or a few together, growing from the leaf axils, stalk erect, sepals pointed, to 1.5 cm long, hairy, crown funnel-shaped, to 7 cm long, lavender, purple, or whitish, usually with a dark purple throat, sometimes completely white.

The specific name stems from the Taino word for the plant, batata. Taino is an extinct Arawakan language, which was spoken by the Taino people of the Caribbean. At the time of the Spanish conquest, it was the most common language in the Caribbean.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a small climber with hairy stems, leaves short- or long-stalked, ovate or heart-shaped, more or less pointed, to 8 cm long and 6 cm wide, lateral veins 5-7 on each side of the midrib. The inflorescence is 1-3-flowered, axillary, sepals hairy, to 8 mm long, outer 2 long-pointed with a broadly triangular or heart-shaped base, to 8 mm across, inner ones narrower, corolla snow-white, tubular or funnel-shaped, to 1.3 cm long and 2.2 cm across.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘with two flowers’, indicating that the flowers often appear in pairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A vigorous climber, stems to 5 m long, twining around other plants or anything else that is upright, or often trailing along the ground, rooting at the nodes. The alternate leaves are ovate or rounded in outline, to 9 cm long and wide, palmate with 5-7 leaflets, the stalked segments entire, lanceolate, ovate, or elliptic, pointed. The flowers are solitary, sometimes 2 or 3 together, opening in the morning and closing in mid-afternoon, sepals to 8 mm long, ovate, with a short spine, corolla funnel-shaped, to 6 cm long and 8 cm across, violet or purplish with a darker throat, rarely completely white.

It is capable of very rapid growth, sometimes completely entwining trees and bushes. It is regarded as an invasive species in many countries, including Australia, China, and Taiwan.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘from Cairo’, where it was first collected.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This species is native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, but is widely cultivated as an ornamental and has become naturalized in many areas. In many countries, it is regarded as an invasive. It is often grown as hedges and as green manure, and paper can be made from the stem. The leaves are sometimes eaten as a vegetable, although they are slightly purgative. It is also utilized in traditional medicine as a sedative, and its latex is used for skin problems. The seeds are toxic to cattle. (Source: proseanet.org)

The specific name is derived from the Latin carnes (‘meat’), referring to its most common flower colour. In Hindi, it is called besharam (‘shameless’), referring to its rampant spreading.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is native to south-eastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America, southwards to Argentina, growing from sea level to elevations around 1,100 m.

The specific name is derived from the Latin cordatus (‘heart-shaped’), tri (‘three’), and lobus (‘lobe’), referring to the mostly 3-lobed leaves with a heart-shaped base. The common name alludes to the tough stems, which can be used as rope.

 

 

 

 

 

This species is native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America, southwards to northern Argentina. It is widely cultivated elsewhere as an ornamental, and has escaped in many countries. It is found from sea level to elevations around 1,600 m.

The specific name is derived from the Latin Hedera (‘ivy’) and folium (‘leaf’), alluding to the shape of the leaves resembling that of the leaves of ivy (Hedera helix).

 

 

 

 

 

The stems are slender, to 9 m long, leaves fleshy, usually oblong, but may also be lanceolate, ovate, or heart-shaped, to 6 cm long, base rounded or heart-shaped, margin entire or with 3-5 lobes. Flowers are usually solitary, sepals to 1.5 cm long, corolla funnel-shaped, to 5 cm long, white with a yellow, sometimes purple throat.

The specific name is derived from the Latin imperatus (‘ruler’ or ’emperor’). Maybe it refers to the fact that this plant often covers large areas.

I. pes-caprae (below) is also called beach morning-glory, but it is a much larger plant with purple flowers. Both species are restricted to sandy beaches.

 

 

 

 

This plant may live up to 25 years. It is extremely variable, stems growing to 15 m long, twining, scrambling, or growing along the ground, often rooting at the nodes. The stalked leaves are alternate, heart-shaped, elliptic, or tri-lobed, to 18 cm long and 16 cm wide, densely hairy on the underside, less so above, margin entire, tip pointed, nerves sometimes impressed. The inflorescences are long-stalked, dense, umbel-like clusters from the leaf axils, each with 2-12 large funnel-shaped flowers, to 10 cm long and across, sepals smooth, narrow and long-pointed, corolla smooth, usually bright blue or bluish-purple, occasionally pale blue or pink, but always with a whitish tube. With age, the flowers may turn reddish-purple or red.

It is particularly common in disturbed areas, such as waste places, gardens, plantations, and along roads and canals.

The specific name is probably a misnomer, as the plant presumably is a native of Latin America. When Dutch botanist and physician Johannes Burman (1707-1780) named the plant in 1755, he was probably told that it originated in India.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is native from Ethiopia southwards through Kenya to Tanzania, where it grows in savannas.

 

 

 

 

 

It is thought to be a native from Mexico and the Caribbean southwards to Argentina, but has been widely introduced elsewhere in warmer countries as an ornamental, easily becoming naturalized.

The seeds are used in traditional medicine as a diuretic and a laxative, for treatment of excess water in the body, and to expell parasitic worms. In Korea, they are used as a contraceptive.

The specific name is derived from Sanskrit nila (‘dark blue’ or ‘black’), presumably alluding to the almost black seeds of this plant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stems slender, to 3 m long, smooth or slightly hairy, twining or creeping along the ground, leaves alternate, stalked, broadly ovate, to 10 cm long and 9 cm wide, but usually much smaller, tip pointed, base heart-shaped base. Inflorescences are axillary, flowers solitary or up to 3 together, sepals ovate, pointed, corolla funnel-shaped, to 3 cm in diameter, white with yellowish radiating lines from the throat to the margin, in the centre of each petal, throat dark purple, base of tube brownish outside.

The pictures below are all from Taiwan, where obscure morning-glory is very common.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A trailing vine, which often forms dense mats on beaches and in sand dunes, stems occasionally reaching a length of 30 m. Leaves alternate, fleshy, bright green, glossy, to 20 cm long and 15 cm wide, variable in shape, outline ovate, obovate, elliptic, or rounded, split in two halves almost to the heart-shaped base. The funnel-shaped flowers are solitary, borne in the leaf axils, to 6 cm long, corolla usually dark pink, occasionally lavender or violet, always with a dark purple throat, corolla rarely completely white.

The specific name was applied by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778), derived from the Latin pes (‘foot’) and Ancient Greek capra (‘goat’), referring to the shape of the leaves. Apparently, Linnaeus found that they resembled the footprint of a goat.

I. imperati (above) is also called beach morning-glory, but it is a much smaller plant with white flowers. Both species are restricted to sandy beaches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a climbing plant, sometimes trailing along the ground, with stems to 3 m long, covered with brown hairs. Leaves are alternate, stalked, ovate with a heart-shaped base, tip usually pointed, sometimes blunt, to 11 cm long and wide. Inflorescences are long-stalked, flowers solitary or in clusters up to 5, calyx hairy at the base, smooth towards the tip, sepals ovate or elliptic, to 1.5 cm long and 4.5 mm wide, corolla funnel-shaped, to 6 cm long and across.

It is native to Mexico and Central America, but has become naturalized in many other parts of the world. In South Africa, it has been labelled an invasive pest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is a native of Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America, but is widely cultivated elsewhere in warm countries, often escaping and becoming naturalized.

The specific name is derived from a Nahuatl word, qua’mochitl, of unknown meaning. The English name refers to the flower colour, which resembles the colour of the robes worn by Catholic cardinals.

 

 

 

 

 

This species is native to central and southern India, and older literature reporting it as occurring in Sri Lanka, and from northern India eastwards to China, are erroneous, applying to other morning-glory species. (Source: G.W. Staples, 1996. The Identity of Ipomoea staphylina (Convolvulaceae) in Asia. Taiwania 41 (3): 185-196)

The tubers are edible after cooking. The stems are sometimes used as a rope to tie around collected firewood.

The specific name is derived from Ancient Greek staphyle (‘a bunch’), referring to the dense arrangement of the flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

The native area of this plant is from Mexico and the Caribbean southwards to northern South America, but today it is widespread in warmer areas around the world, often becoming a noxious weed. It is found in grasslands, shrubberies, waste places, along roads, and occasionally on sandy beaches, from sea-level to elevations around 750 m.

In some areas, the leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable. A poultice of the plant is used in treatment of headache, a decoction of the leaves against stomach ache.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name is composed of the Latin aster (‘resembling’), and the genus name Ipomoea, referring to the fact that these plants resemble members of Ipomoea.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name means ‘silvery’, derived from Ancient Greek argyros (‘silver’), referring to the silvery young stems and underside of leaves of some members of the genus.

 

It is restricted to southern India and Sri Lanka.

The plant was probably named for German jurist, historian, naturalist, mathematician, and diplomat Jacob Theodor Klein (1685-1759), who published numerous works on natural history.

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name commemorates German naturalist and mathematician Blasius Merrem (1761-1824), who was professor of political economy and botany at the University of Marburg. He was the first scientist to propose a division of birds into Ratitae (running birds, with a flat breastbone), and Carinatae (flying birds, with a keeled breastbone). His classification of birds was published with the title Tentamen Systematis Naturalis Avium.

 

Stems many, slender, smooth, to several metres long, twining or often creeping along the ground, leaves stalked, alternate, ovate or triangular, long-pointed, base heart-shaped, blade to 9 cm long and 7 cm wide, with 6-7 veins on each side of the midrib, margin entire. Inflorescences are axillary, flowers funnel-shaped, solitary or several together, sepals obovate or rounded, to 8 mm long, corolla bright yellow, to 2 cm long and across.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘twin’, maybe alluding to the flowers often appearing in pairs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from the Latin e- (‘without’) and volvere (‘to wind’ or ‘to wrap’ (around)), indicating that these plants are not twining.

 

Its distribution area is largely similar to that of the genus. It inhabits a wide variety of habitats, including dry grasslands, marshlands, forests, deserts, and roadsides, from sea level to elevations around 1,000 m.

This plant is one of the Dasapushpam, the ten sacred flowers of Kerala, South India, which are used for decorative purposes during Hindu festivals, and also widely utilized as folk medicine. Slender dwarf morning-glory is used for treatment of numerous ailments, including headache, burning sensation, diabetes, asthma, uterine disorders, ulcers, and dysentery. In Malayalam, its name means Krishna’s light, Krishna being an avatar (incarnation) of the great Hindu god Vishnu. (More about this issue is found on the page Religion: Hinduism).

The specific name means ‘resembling Alsine’, a former genus of the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), whose members have been moved to Minuartia and other genera. Presumably, the name refers to the leaf shape resembling that of the common chickweed (Stellaria media, previously Alsine media).

 

 

 

 

 

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek dinetos (‘whirled around’), alluding to the climbing habit of these plants.

 

A slender climber, leaves long-stalked, ovate with heart-shaped base, long-pointed, blade to 12.5 cm long and 9 cm wide, silvery-hairy beneath when young. Inflorescences are axillary, pendent, flowers funnel-shaped, several in clusters, sepals brown, linear, oblong, or triangular, to 6 mm long, enlarged to about 4 cm in fruit, corolla to 3 cm long and 4.5 cm across, mauve or rosy-purple with a white eye, tube cylindric, narrow.

The specific name is Latin, meaning ‘with large flowers’, i.e. large compared to other members of this genus.

 

 

 

 

 

Its long stems twine around bushes and trees, leaves long-stalked, blade ovate, to 16 cm long and 9 cm wide, base deeply heart-shaped. Inflorescences are long, slender, axillary clusters, to 45 cm long, bracts heart-shaped, clasping, sepals oblong or lanceolate, intitially tiny, enlarging to about 1.5 cm in fruit, fruiting calyx reflexed, brown or purplish, corolla funnel-shaped, white with a yellow throat, to 1.3 cm long and across.

This species has about the same distribution as the genus, found from the lowlands to elevations around 2,400 m.

The specific name is derived from the Latin racemus (‘cluster’) and osus (‘full of’), referring to the many-flowered inflorescences. In a botanical context, the name indicates a plant, whose inflorescences are racemes.