Morning-glories and bindweeds
Glorious pink morning-glory (Ipomoea carnea) in morning light, Kerala, India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Flowers of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) are usually white, or white with pink markings, and a rose-coloured variety is not uncommon. This one was photographed on the island of Bornholm, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Railroad creeper (Ipomoea cairica) is extremely common in Taiwan, where this picture was taken. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
The morning-glory, or bindweed, family (Convolvulaceae) contains about 58 genera with close to 2,000 species, most of which are herbaceous vines, but also some erect herbs, shrubs, and trees. The flowers of almost all species are funnel-shaped with five fused petals, and many are quite showy. The leaves are simple and alternate, often heart-shaped, and without stipules (small leaf-like bracts on each side of the base of the leaf-stalk).
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.”
Convolvulus Bindweed
The bindweeds, comprising about 190 species, constitute the type genus of the family, distributed on most of the planet, with the greatest diversity in the Middle East. Most species of the genus are twining herbs, although quite a few are woody shrubs.
Convolvulus arvensis Field bindweed
The type species of the type genus, named in 1753 by Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778). It is native to Europe and temperate areas of Asia, but has been accidentally introduced to many other parts of the world, where it has become invasive in many places, 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.”
Large growth of field bindweed at a road side, Zealand, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Flowers of field bindweed are usually white, often with pink markings here and there, as in these pictures from Bornholm, Denmark (top), and Skåne, Sweden. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Convolvulus assyricus Assyrian bindweed
This very low plant, which is native to eastern Turkey and northern Iraq, forms compact cushions, an adaptation to the windy conditions in the open areas, in which it grows. 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.
Assyrian bindweed is very common around the Ala Dağları Mountains, southern Turkey, where these pictures were taken. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Convolvulus cantabrica Cantabrian bindweed
This plant is native to areas around the Mediterranean, growing on calcareous soils in dry grasslands and rocky places, from sea level up to an altitude of 1,300 m. The specific name refers to Cantabria, an autonomous region in the Basque Country, northern Spain.
Cantabrian bindweed, Turgutlu, east of Manisa, south-western Turkey. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Convolvulus chilensis Chilean bindweed
This shrub is endemic to northern and central Chile, growing up to an altitude of c. 1,800 m.
Chilean bindweed, observed in Valle del Encanto, near the town of Ovalle. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Convolvulus dorycnium Splendid bindweed
This shrub with stiff branches, growing to 1 m tall, lives up to its name, producing an abundance of beautiful flowers. It is distributed in the southern part of Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, and the Middle East, eastwards to Iran, and also in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia.
Splendid bindweed, photographed near Gournes, Crete. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Convolvulus galaticus
This species is distributed in eastern Turkey and northern Iraq. Galatia was a province of Ancient Rome, situated in what is today central Turkey.
Convolvulus galaticus, photographed near Uluköy, northeast of Dinar, Turkey. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Convolvulus hystrix
A low, tangled shrub with numerous branches, ending in sharp spines. This species is distributed from Egypt south to Somalia, and in the Arabian Peninsula, south to Yemen and Oman. The specific name is the Greek word for porcupines, naturally referring to the sharp spines.
Convolvulus hystrix, photographed near Ras Muhammad, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Convolvulus tricolor Dwarf bindweed
This gorgeous bindweed is native to the western Mediterranean, found in Spain, Portugal, and north-western Africa, where it is common in sandy areas, on cultivated land, and along roads.
In these pictures, dwarf bindweed is growing in a field, together with dandelion (Taraxacum) and love-in-a-mist (Nigella damascena), near San Martin el Tesarillo, Andalusia. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Calystegia False bindweed
This genus contains about 25 species of herbaceous twining vines, which may grow to 5 m long, or more. The generic name is derived from the 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. They are distributed in temperate and subtropical areas around the world, with almost half of the species being endemic to California.
Calystegia sepium Hedge bindweed
Hedge bindweed has a very wide distribution, found in the northern and southern temperate zones. Due to its vigorous growth, it is regarded as a pest in many places.
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.”
Hedge bindweed, Funen, Denmark. The plant in the foreground is rough chervil (Chaerophyllum temulum). (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
In this picture, hedge bindweed is entwining the stem of a giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea), Zealand, Denmark. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
This hedge bindweed, photographed shortly after a rain shower, is climbing up a fence near Hallein, Austria. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
An American subspecies of hedge bindweed, ssp. 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.
American hedge bindweed, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, Massachusetts. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Calystegia silvatica Greater bindweed
This plant is a native around the Mediterranean, 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. It is very similar to hedge bindweed, but has larger flowers, and its bracts are shorter, overlapping at least half of their length, whereas they scarcely overlap in hedge bindweed.
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.
Greater bindweed, Boz Dağlari, east of Manisa, south-western Turkey. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea Morning-glory
A huge genus, comprising more than 500 species, most of which are twining plants with large, beautiful flowers. The generic name, from the Greek ip (‘worm’) and hómoia (‘resembling’), was applied by Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778) in allusion to the worm-like movements of the stem, which twines around other plants, fences, etc.
Ipomoea aquatica Water morning-glory
The place of origin of this plant is unknown. It 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.
In some areas, water morning-glory has escaped cultivation, here in Keoladeo National Park, Rajasthan, India. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
A large growth of water morning-glory in a fallow plot, Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
In these pictures, water morning-glory is growing in a drainage canal in Taichung. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea batatas Sweet potato
This plant is a most important crop in many tropical and subtropical countries around the world. Its large, sweet-tasting tubers resemble true potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), but the two species are not closely related, as the true potato belongs to the nightshade family (Solanaceae). Young sweet potato leaves and shoots are eaten as a vegetable in many places.
Flowering sweet potato plants, cultivated near Taichung, Taiwan. In the lower picture, downy bur-marigold (Bidens pilosa) is also seen. This invasive plant is described on the page Nature: Invasive species. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
This woman is selling sweet potatoes and bananas at a market near Ngaunderé, Cameroun. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea biflora
This small-flowered creeper is widespread in warmer areas of Asia, Africa, and Australia, growing along roads, on mountain slopes, and in other open areas, usually in dry places.
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)
Ipomoea biflora, climbing up the stem of a slender amaranth (Amaranthus viridis), growing in an abandoned plot in Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
In this picture, Ipomoea biflora is climbing along barbwire, Taichung. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea cairica Railroad creeper
This plant, also known as coast morning-glory and mile-a-minute vine, is believed to be a native of Tropical Africa, but is today very widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas around the world. It is capable of very rapid growth, sometimes completely entwining trees and bushes, but is also able to creep along the ground. It is regarded as an invasive species in many countries, including Australia, China, and Taiwan.
These pictures are from Taiwan, where railroad creeper is extremely common. In the upper picture, a plant is completely enveloping a growth of dwarf bamboo in the city of Taichung. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea carnea Pink morning-glory
An erect shrubby herb, growing to 3 m tall. The specific name is derived from the Latin carnes (‘meat’), referring to its flesh-coloured flowers. Occasionally, though, it has whitish flowers. This species is a native of Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America, which is widely cultivated as an ornamental and has become naturalized in many areas. In many countries, it is regarded as an invasive.
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)
Large growth of pink morning-glory, observed at Hampi, Karnataka, South India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
As its name implies, pink morning-glory usually has pink flowers, although whitish flowers are occasionally seen, as in this picture from Kerala, South India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea cordatotriloba Tievine
A most proliferate plant, native to south-eastern United States, Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America.
In these pictures, tievine is completely enveloping a bush near Monterrico, Guatemala. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea hederifolia Scarlet morning-glory, scarlet creeper
This species is easily identified by its red flowers and heart-shaped leaves. It is a native of Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America, but has escaped cultivation in many countries.
Scarlet morning-glory, photographed near the Dunhinda Falls, Badulla, Sri Lanka. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea imperati
This slender plant, with small oblong leaves and small white flowers, is often creeping along sandy beaches in warmer areas around the globe.
Ipomoea imperati, Tortuguero National Park, Limón, Costa Rica. In the lower picture, raindrops are clinging to the flowers. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea indica Blue dawn-flower, Indian morning-glory
This species is extremely variable, its leaves being heart-shaped or tri-lobed, and the flower colour varying from purplish to blue to pink. It is sometimes called blue morning-glory, which is confusing, as this name is usually applied to Ipomoea nil (below).
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.
Purplish form of blue dawn-flower, Bali, Indonesia. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Blue form from Pokhara, Nepal. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Pale blue form, observed in Yeliou Geopark, northern Taiwan. This form very much resembles Ipomoea nil (below), but its calyx is smooth, whereas that of I. nil is hairy. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Pink form, photographed in western Taiwan, together with downy bur-marigold (Bidens pilosa), described on the page Nature: Invasive species. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea jaegeri Kenyan morning-glory
This erect shrub, growing to 75 cm tall, often forms dense clumps. It is native to East Africa, where it grows in savannas.
This growth of Kenyan morning-glory was observed in the Olduvai Gorge, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea nil Blue, ivy-leaved, or Japanese morning-glory
Flowers of this plant are various shades of blue, with a white funnel. It may be told from similar species by the base of the calyx being hairy (clearly seen in the close-up photo below). It is thought to be a native of Mexico or Central America, but has been widely introduced elsewhere in warmer countries as an ornamental, or accidentally.
This blue morning-glory, encountered in the Marsyangdi Valley, central Nepal, is entwining a species of mugwort (Artemisia). (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
A form with pale blue flowers is common in Taiwan, here climbing up a wall (top) and a fence in the city of Taichung. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea obscura Obscure morning-glory, small white morning-glory
This plant is native to the southern half of Africa, tropical Asia, northern Australia, and some Pacific Islands, including Fiji, and has been introduced elsewhere as an ornamental, or accidentally. It may be identified by its small, heart-shaped leaves and the white flowers, 2-3 cm wide, with a brownish base.
These pictures are from Taiwan, where obscure morning-glory is very common. In the upper picture, a plant is creeping along an unused asphalt road, whereas the one in the lower picture is climbing along barbwire. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
This ‘long-term’ parked car in the city of Taichung, Taiwan, has been overgrown by various plants, including obscure morning-glory, a climber of the pea family with chocolate-brown flowers, and a composite with white ray florets, the downy bur-marigold (Bidens pilosa), which is described on the page Nature: Invasive species. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea pes-caprae Beach morning-glory
A very common plant on sandy beaches in all tropical and some subtropical areas, easily spreading by its seeds, which are able to float for a long time, unaffected by salt water. The specific name is derived from the Latin pes (‘foot’) and the Greek capra (‘goat’), referring to the shape of its leaves, which, to Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus (1707-1778), apparently resembled the footprint of a goat.
Beach morning-glory, Puri, Odisha (Orissa), eastern India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Beach morning-glory, Siao Liouchou Island, Taiwan. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
The leaves of beach morning-glory are also attractive. – Tortuguero National Park, Limón, Costa Rica. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea purpurea Purple morning-glory
As its name implies, flowers of this plant are mostly purple, but may also be white or various shades of blue, and cultivated varieties come in other colours, including red or multi-coloured. This species is native to Mexico and Central America, but has become naturalized in many other parts of the world.
Purple morning-glory, growing in the Marsyangdi Valley, central Nepal. In the upper picture, a wild species of buckwheat, Fagopyrum dibotrys, and a composite, the downy bur-marigold (Bidens pilosa), are also seen, the latter described on the page Nature: Invasive species. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
This flower of purple morning-glory was photographed shortly after a rain shower, Flores, Lago Peten Itza, Guatemala. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea quamoclit Cardinal creeper
Easily identified by its bright red flowers and pinnate leaves. Other names of this species include star glory, cypress vine, and hummingbird vine. 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 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.
Cardinal creeper, Pokhara, Nepal. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea sinensis Chinese morning-glory
The flowers of this species are small, only around 2 cm across, and the heart-shaped leaves are much larger than the flowers. The native area of this plant is unknown. It is widespread in Asia, Africa, and southern Europe.
Chinese morning-glory, Taichung, Taiwan. In the upper picture, downy bur-marigold (Bidens pilosa) is also seen, described on the page Nature: Invasive species. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Ipomoea staphylina Clustered morning-glory
The flowers of this plant are small, to 3 cm across. The specific name is derived from the Greek staphyle (‘a bunch’), referring to the dense arrangement of the flowers. This species is native to the Indian Subcontinent, eastwards to China. In India, its stems are sometimes used as a rope to tie around collected firewood.
Clustered morning-glory, photographed near Mysore, Karnataka, South India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Astripomoea
A genus of 12 shrubby morning-glories, distributed from Mali eastwards to Sudan and the Arabian Peninsula, and thence southwards to South Africa.
This Astripomoea was encountered on savannas in northern Tanzania, in Tarangire National Park (top) and near Mkomazi National Park. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Argyreia
This is a genus of about 90 species of woody shrubs or climbers, many of which have very showy flowers. These plants are distributed in Tropical Asia and Madagascar, and some species have become naturalized elsewhere, especially in Africa, but also a few places in Australia, and North and South America.
Argyreia populifolia
This climber has wonderful whitish or pink flowers with a maroon throat. It only occurs in southern India and Sri Lanka.
Argyreia populifolia, Anshi National Park, Karnataka, South India. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Merremia Woodrose
Woodroses, comprising c. 80 species, are distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Asia, Australia, and Central and South America, with the largest concentration in Asia.
Merremia hederacea Ivy woodrose
This species, with bright yellow flowers, is widely distributed, found in Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, southern China, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea, the Philippines, northern Australia, and some Pacific Islands. It is used medicinally for treating tonsillitis.
Ivy woodrose, photographed in Taiwan, where this species is quite common. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Evolvulus Dwarf morning-glory
A genus with about 100 species, found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, Asia, Australia, and North and South America, with the highest concentration in the Americas.
Evolvulus alsinoides Slender dwarf morning-glory
This creeping plant is distributed in most warmer areas of the world. The specific name means ‘resembling Alsine’, a former genus of sandworts in the pink family (Caryophyllaceae), which is today split into Minuartia and other genera.
Slender dwarf morning-glory is common along coasts of Taiwan, here encountered in Kenting National Park. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Dinetus
Members of this genus, comprising 8 species, were formerly included in the genus Porana. These Asian plants are distributed from Pakistan eastwards to China, and thence southwards through Southeast Asia to Indonesia and the Philippines.
Dinetus grandiflorus
This plant, previously known as Porana grandiflora, is found in the Himalaya, from Nepal eastwards to Bhutan and extreme south-eastern Tibet, growing at elevations between 1,900 and 2,500 m.
Dinetus grandiflorus, Chipling, Helambu, centrale Nepal. (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Dinetus racemosus Snow creeper
This species has about the same distribution as the genus, described above. Its clusters of small white flowers are gorgeous, “resembling dazzling patches of snow in the jungle,” cited from an unknown source by Oleg Polunin and Adam Stainton in their book Flowers of the Himalaya (Oxford University Press, 1984).
Snow creeper, Sarangkot, Pokhara, Nepal. In the lower picture, it is climbing up a stem of an aibika (Abelmoschus manihot). (Photos copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Fruits of most genera in the bindweed family are capsules, but a few species produce berries or nuts.
This fruiting blue morning glory (Ipomoea nil) is climbing over discarded pallets in the city of Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
This obscure morning-glory (Ipomoea obscura), which grows on a fence in Taichung, shows the small, ovate capsules of this species. (Photo copyright © by Kaj Halberg)
Cuscuta Dodder
These plants differ from other members of the morning-glory family in being parasites, which twine around other plants, often completely enveloping them. This fascinating genus is presented in detail on the page Plants: Parasitic plants.
(Uploaded March 2018)
(Latest update August 2021)