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Species
Convolvulus arvensis
IUCN
NCBI
EOL Text
This introduced perennial plant is a vine that produces stems 2-4' long. The stems are usually glabrous, but are sometimes hairy where new growth occurs. The alternate leaves are 1-2' long and half as much across. They are often sagittate (arrowhead-shaped), but are variable and can assume other forms as well. Their margins are smooth and occasionally slightly ciliate. Long slender petioles connect the leaves with the stems. A slender flowering stalk may develop from the base of a petiole. This stalk occasionally branches and can produce 1-3 flowers. The corolla of a flower is funnelform in shape and up to 1" across; it is usually white, sometimes with light pink patterns. The 5 lobes of the corolla are very shallow and barely perceptible. Toward the throat of the corolla is a patch of yellow and the reproductive parts, consisting of 5 stamens and a pistil with a divided style. These reproductive parts are usually white, although the anthers may be pink or light purple in flowers with pink corollas. At the base of the flower, there are 5 green sepals that are much smaller than the corolla. Up to 1" below the base of a flower, there are a pair of small green bracts on the flowering stalk. The blooming period can occur from late spring to early fall, and can span several months, even though individual flowers persist for only a single day, usually opening during the morning and closing by late afternoon. A hairless and well-rounded seed capsule about ¼" long replaces each flower; each 2-celled capsule contains 4 seeds. These dark seeds are 3-angled and oblong, but tapering somewhat at the ends. Each seed usually has 2 flat sides and 1 convex side; it is about 1/8" long. The root system consists of a slender taproot that branches frequently; it can extend 20' into the ground. Rhizomes are also produced in abundance, so that this plant often forms vegetative colonies.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
| Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/field_bindweed.htm |
2600-4100 m
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
| Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=110&taxon_id=200018801 |
Long-tongued bees visit the flowers for nectar, including bumblebees and Little Carpenter bees. Bees that are specialist pollinators of members of the Bindweed family (and similar funnelform flowers from other plant families) include Melitoma taurea (Mallow Bee), Peponapis pruinosa pruinosa (Squash & Gourd Bee), and Cemolobus ipomoeae (Morning Glory Bee). The caterpillars of some moth species feed on the foliage of bindweeds, including Emmelina monodactyla (Common Plume Moth), Schizura ipomoeae (Morning Glory Prominent), and Spragueia leo (Common Spragueia). Shiny blue-green Argus beetles are often found on bindweeds, including Chelymorpha cassidea (Argus Tortoise Beetle); they feed on the foliage as well. Field Bindweed is not a preferred food source for mammalian herbivores because the foliage is mildly toxic. Furthermore, there have been reports of the rootstocks poisoning swine.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
| Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/field_bindweed.htm |
Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 17
Specimens with Barcodes: 34
Species With Barcodes: 1
"Notes: Western Ghats & Eastern Ghats, Dry Deciduous to moist Deciduous Forests , also in Cultivated Lands"
Herbs perennial, with ± woody rhizomes. Stems prostrate or twining, to 1 m tall, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Petiole 0.3-2 cm; leaf blade ovate-oblong to ovate, 1.5-5 X 1-4 cm, glabrous or pubescent, base hastate, sagittate, or cordate, apex obtuse, mucronulate; prominently 3-veined basally, upper parts pinnately veined. Inflorescences axillary, cymose, 1-3-flowered; peduncle 3-8 cm; bracts 2, linear, ca. 3 mm. Pedicel ca. 4 as long as calyx. Sepals unequal, 3.5-5 mm; outer 2 broadly oblong to obovate, shorter, abaxially sparsely pubescent or glabrous, margin ± ciliate, apex retuse; inner ones ovate-circular, margin membranous, apex obtuse or retuse. Corolla white or pink, broadly funnelform, 1.5-2.6 cm, midpetaline bands pubescent outside distally; limb shallowly 5-lobed. Stamens included, unequal; filaments minutely scaly basally. Disc cupular. Ovary ovoid, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Stigmas cylindric. Capsule ovoid to subglobose, 5-8 mm, glabrous. Seeds 4 or fewer, dark brown or black, ovoid, 3-4 mm, tuberculate. Fl. Jun-Aug, fr. Jun-Sep. 2n = 24, 48, 50.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | eFloras.org Copyright © Missouri Botanical Garden |
| Source | http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200018801 |
Foodplant / gall
Eriophyes convolvuli causes gall of leaf of Convolvulus arvensis
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
Erysiphe convolvuli parasitises live Convolvulus arvensis
Foodplant / open feeder
adult of Longitarsus pellucidus grazes on leaf of Convolvulus arvensis
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Melanagromyza albocilia feeds within stem of Convolvulus arvensis
Foodplant / spot causer
epiphyllous, immersed, brown pycnidium of Septoria coelomycetous anamorph of Septoria convolvuli causes spots on fading leaf of Convolvulus arvensis
Remarks: season: 7-8
Foodplant / spot causer
few, hypophyllous, immersed, pallid pycnidium of Stagonospora coelomycetous anamorph of Stagonospora calystegiae causes spots on fading leaf of Convolvulus arvensis
Remarks: season: 7-9
Foodplant / pathogen
immersed sorus of Thecaphora seminis-convolvuli infects and damages seeds (in capsule) of Convolvulus arvensis
Remarks: season: 8-10
Foodplant / feeds on
adult of Thrips atratus feeds on live flower of Convolvulus arvensis
Field Bindweed is a common plant that has been reported from most counties in Illinois (see Distribution Map); it is native to Eurasia. This plant continues to spread and probably occurs in every county of the state. Habitats include lawns, gardens, fields, clay banks, areas along roadsides and railroads (including ballast), vacant lots, and miscellaneous waste areas. This plant occurs primarily in disturbed areas.
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
| Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/field_bindweed.htm |
Convolvulus arvensis can be confused with several other members of the Convolvulaceae (Morning-glory family). C. sepium is quite similar in appearance but can be distinguished by its larger leaves, flowers, and seeds, and by two large bracts inserted at the base of the flower. C. spithamaeus is shorter than C. arvensis and is erect with oval leaves. Several species of Ipomoea resemble C. arvensis, but they can be distinguished by their annual habit, capitate stigma, longer sepals, and blue or purple corolla. Polygonum convolvulus (Polygonaceae) can be confused with C. arvensis due to its arrow-shaped leaves and twining stems but is distinguished by its annual habit and clusters of small green flowers in the leaf axils.