Morning-glories and bindweeds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The stems of the major part of these plants are winding, hence the scientific name of the family, from the Latin convolvere, ‘to wind’.

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.”

 

 

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.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Formerly, these plants were included in the genus Convolvulus, which they closely resemble, only differing in minute botanical characters. They are distributed in temperate and subtropical areas around the world, with almost half of the species being endemic to California.

 

The common name, as well as the specific name, meaning ‘growing in hedges’ in Latin, refer to the fact that this species is often observed 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.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Supposedly, subspecies fraterniflora occurs in North America. I find it quite puzzling that two populations of a plant should be distributed so far apart. They may be two different species.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The taxonomy of the plant is not clear. Some authorities recognize only two species of small-flowered Ipomoea with heart-shaped sepals, I. plebeia and I. sinensis, regarding I. biflora as synonymous with either of the two. (Source: eflora of China)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink morning-glory is also grown in 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. This species 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 place of origin of blue dawn-flower is unknown. Today, its distribution is pan-tropical, and it is also found in some subtropical areas. It is regarded as an unwanted invasive plant in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, California, Portugal, and elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The specific name is 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.