Convolvulus arvensis

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Convolvulus arvensis
Bindweed (Convolvulus Arvensis) (3105112704).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Solanales
Family: Convolvulaceae
Genus: Convolvulus
Species:
C. arvensis
Binomial name
Convolvulus arvensis
L.

Convolvulus arvensis, or field bindweed, is a species of bindweed in the Convolvulaceae [1] native to Europe and Asia. It is a rhizomatous and climbing or creeping herbaceous perennial plant with stems growing to 0.5–2 metres (1.6–6.6 ft) in length. It is usually found at ground level with small white and pink flowers.

Other common names, mostly obsolete, include lesser bindweed, European bindweed, withy wind (in basket willow crops), perennial morning glory, small-flowered morning glory, creeping jenny, and possession vine.

Taxonomy

Field bindweed was first described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in the Species Plantarum . In the following centuries, many subspecies, varieties, and synonymous taxa were discovered and described as purportedly new species in places including China, Russia, Egypt, and Morocco.[ citation needed ] New species and forms were described as far as Chile, Mexico, and the state of California when botanists encountered the plant there, [2] [3] although it is not native to these areas. [2]

Convolvulus arvensis, Zaamin National Park, Uzbekistan Convolvulus Rosa 01.jpg
Convolvulus arvensis, Zaamin National Park, Uzbekistan

In the ninth volume of Augustin Pyramus de Candolle's Prodromus , published in 1845, Jacques Denys Choisy reduced a number of these synonyms to ten varieties of Convolvulus arvensis, [4] although he also recognized a number of species now also reduced to synonyms of C. arvensis. [2] [3] Over time, most or all of these species and varieties were no longer recognized by the relevant authorities. [5]

In the Flora of Great Britain and Ireland (2009), Peter Derek Sell described nine new forms he believed he had discovered in Cambridgeshire, along Fen Road in the village of Bassingbourn cum Kneesworth. The forms discovered in Bassingbourn cum Kneesworth were deemed not credible by subsequent taxonomic authorities, however, and the species is currently considered to be monotypic by most authorities. [2] [3]

Description

Convolvulus arvensis is a perennial vine that typically climbs to 1 metre (3.3 ft). The vine produces woody rhizomes [5] from which it resprouts in the spring, or when the aboveground vines are removed.

The leaves are spirally arranged, linear to arrowhead-shaped, 2–5 cm (0.79–1.97 in) long and alternate, with a 1–3 cm (0.39–1.18 in) petiole. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, 1–2.5 cm (0.39–0.98 in) diameter, white or pale pink, with five slightly darker pink radial stripes. Flowering occurs in the mid-summer [6] (in the UK, between June and September [7] ) 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 0.125 inches (3.2 mm) wide. Each fruit contains 2 or 4 seeds that are eaten by birds and can remain viable in the soil for decades. The stems climb by twisting around other plant stems in a counter-clockwise direction. [6]

Flower with red velvet mites Convolvulus arvenvis with mites.jpg
Flower with red velvet mites
Convolvulus arvensis capsules and seeds Convolvulus arvensis MHNT.BOT.2005.0.960.jpg
Convolvulus arvensis capsules and seeds
Convolvulus arvensis in pink Convolvulus arvensis - flower view.jpg
Convolvulus arvensis in pink

Similar species

Convolvulus arvensis can be confused with a number of similar species. Key traits of C. arvensis are the small flowers often crowded together, and two sharp, backwards-pointed lobes at the base of the usually arrow-shaped leaf ending in a sharp apex. [8] Juvenile stems exude a milky sap when broken. [9] Similar species include:

In China, the most similar vining Convolvulus species is Concolvulus steppicola. Most other Convolvulus species are shrubs or herbaceous perennials, [10] however Convolvulus steppicola has a thick woody rootstock, almost no petioles, and only grows in northern Yunnan, [10] [11] where C. arvensis is absent. [5]

Ecology

Plants are typically found inhabiting farmland, [5] [7] [12] waste places, [5] [7] [13] along roads, [5] [12] [13] in pastures, [12] [13] grassy slopes, [5] and also along streams in North America. [12] It is able to colonize hot asphalt surfaces by covering it from the sides of roads, and worm its way between pavement stones. [7] It grows from 600 to 4,500 metres (2,000 to 14,800 ft) in altitude in China, and is absent from the warmer southern provinces. [5] It prefers dry areas with humus-poor, nutrient-rich and alkaline soils. It is a characteristic species in the phytosociological vegetation association Convolvulo-Agropyretum, belonging to the couch grass dry grasslands alliance (called Convolvulo-Agropyrion repentis in syntaxonomy). [13]

Like the other Convolvulus bindweeds of Eurasia, it is specifically pollinated by sweat bees in the genus Systropha . These are specialists (oligolectic) feeding upon the flowers of these plants, possessing unusual modifications of the scopa, such that almost the entire abdomen (including the dorsal surface) is used for carrying pollen, rather than the legs, as in most bees. [14] Species of Systropha in central Europe (such as S. curvicornis and S. planidens, both uncommon bees) are essentially entirely dependent upon C. arvensis. Although both species specialise on the same plant species, S. curvicornis is a habitat generalist while S. planidens is only found in steppe habitats, [15] although they are also found occurring together. The males of both species claim territories consisting of a patch of bindweed flowers, perching on the flowers in the afternoon after a regular patrol of their little patch for errant conspecific males, which, upon countenance, they proceed to attack the intruder by ramming him from the air with a specialised protuberance on their lower abdomen. Sometimes bumblebees, honey bees or other insects are air-bombed, but never rammed. The males retreat inside the flower after the perching session, as it closes in the late afternoon, spending the night inside the flower and escaping at dawn before or after it fully closes (the females stay in underground tunnel nests). The males only land on flowers (sometimes of other plants), eschewing other perches, and feed on the nectar. Females forage for nectar and pollen in the morning and early afternoon while flowers stay open. Most copulation occurs in bindweed flowers: when a virgin female wanders into their patch, and the larger males find them busy at one of their flowers during morning patrol, the males pounce upon them without ado and immediately establish contact with their mutual genitalia, getting the job done on average 90 seconds later. [16] These species are themselves specifically parasitised upon by the cuckoo bee Biastes brevicornis . [17]

As an invasive species

Outside its native range, field bindweed does not appear to be a significant threat to natural habitats. It primarily requires disturbed ground (agricultural land), [18] [19] and is easily shaded out by taller shrubs and trees. It may dominate the ground flora in some low quality, open grassland areas, however. [18] In North America it can become the or a co-dominant plant in specific habitats: the low vegetation found around vernal pools in Sacramento County, and around large pools in Tehama County, California; riparian corridors in Wyoming and Colorado; aspen stands and mountain-mahogany ( Cercocarpus spp.) shrubland/grassland in Colorado; and disturbed riverbank areas in the Montreal area of Canada. [19] In some nature parks, it is commonly found in areas of disturbed soil, such as camp grounds or around horse corrals in California. Similarly, the report of its invasive character from Colorado is from former agricultural land being restored to a more natural state by The Nature Conservancy. Employees for the same organisation also reported that it was a significant weed on an irrigated plot of farmland in northern Idaho where native bunchgrass and forbs were cultivated, insofar that it caused "decreasing biodiversity" on the land. [19]

A study conducted in 2003 has shown that with future global atmospheric carbon levels, field bindweed shows increased growth with increased atmospheric carbon which could potentially expand its range and outcompete native species that might not tolerate such conditions. [20]

It is thought to have little effect on native fauna, although it may sometime be eaten by farm livestock. It may cause photosensitisation in susceptible animals. There is a report of its roots (rhizomes) being possibly poisonous to pigs. [18] [19] and the alkaloids it contains may be poisonous to horses in sufficient amounts. [21] There are also reports of it being eaten by sheep and pigs to control it without reported problems. [19]

Chemistry and uses

Bindweed contains several alkaloids which are toxic for mice, including pseudotropine, and lesser amounts of tropine, tropinone, and meso-cuscohygrine. [22] The alkaloids are also reported to give the plant psychoactive properties. Its leaves contain glycosides and have been traditionally used to treat hypertension and as a laxative and diuretic. [23]

Economic impacts

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 introduced into North America as a contaminant in crop seed as early as 1739, and became an invasive species. 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. [12] It is one of the most serious weeds of agricultural fields in many temperate regions of the US. [24]

Control and management

Bindweed is difficult to eliminate. Roots may extend as far as 9 feet (2.7 m) deep, according to one source, [9] or 30 feet (9.1 m), according to another. [25] New plants may sprout from seeds that are up to 20 years old. [26] New plants can also form from root runners [25] and root fragments. [9]

Methods for controlling bindweed include:

In culture

In one of the tales collected by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Our Lady's Little Glass, this flower is used by Mary, mother of Jesus, 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". [29]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Convolvulaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

Convolvulaceae, commonly called the bindweeds or morning glories, is a family of about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species. These species are primarily herbaceous vines, but also include trees, shrubs and herbs. The tubers of several species are edible, the best known of which is the sweet potato.

<i>Jacobaea vulgaris</i> Flowering plant, daisy family Asteraceae

Jacobaea vulgaris, syn. Senecio jacobaea, is a very common wild flower in the family Asteraceae that is native to northern Eurasia, usually in dry, open places, and has also been widely distributed as a weed elsewhere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morning glory</span> Common name for more than 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae

Morning glory is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, whose current taxonomy and systematics are in flux. Morning glory species belong to many genera, some of which are:

<i>Convolvulus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Convolvulus is a genus of about 200 to 250 species of flowering plants in the bindweed family Convolvulaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include bindweed and morning glory; both are names shared with other closely related genera.

<i>Calystegia</i> Genus of flowering plants in the morning glory family Convolvulaceae

Calystegia is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the bindweed family Convolvulaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution in temperate and subtropical regions, but with half of the species endemic to California. They are annual or herbaceous perennial twining vines growing 1–5 m tall, with spirally arranged leaves. The flowers are trumpet-shaped, 3–10 cm diameter, white or pink, with a sometimes inflated basal epicalyx.

<i>Fallopia convolvulus</i> Species of flowering plant in the knotweed family Polygonaceae

Fallopia convolvulus, the black-bindweed or wild buckwheat, is a fast-growing annual flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae native throughout Europe, Asia and northern Africa.

<i>Echium vulgare</i> Species of flowering plant

Echium vulgare, known as viper's bugloss and blueweed, is a species of flowering plant in the borage family Boraginaceae. It is native to most of Europe and western and central Asia and it occurs as an introduced species in north-eastern North America, south-western South America and the South and North Island of New Zealand. The plant root was used in ancient times as a treatment for snake or viper bites. If eaten, the plant is toxic to horses and cattle through the accumulation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the liver.

<i>Cirsium arvense</i> Species of flowering plant

Cirsium arvense is a perennial species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native throughout Europe and western Asia, northern Africa and widely introduced elsewhere. The standard English name in its native area is creeping thistle. It is also commonly known as Canada thistle and field thistle.

<i>Calystegia sepium</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae

Calystegia sepium is a species of flowering plant in the family Convolvulaceae. It has a subcosmopolitan distribution throughout temperate regions of the North and South hemispheres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eriophyidae</span> Family of mites

Eriophyidae is a family of more than 200 genera of mites, which live as plant parasites, commonly causing galls or other damage to the plant tissues and hence known as gall mites. About 3,600 species have been described, but this is probably less than 10% of the actual number existing in this poorly researched family. They are microscopic mites and are yellow to pinkish white to purplish in color. The mites are worm like, and have only two pairs of legs. Their primary method of population spread is by wind. They affect a wide range of plants, and several are major pest species causing substantial economic damage to crops. Some species, however, are used as biological agents to control weeds and invasive plant species.

<i>Ambrosia trifida</i> Species of flowering plant

Ambrosia trifida, the giant ragweed, is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to North America, where it is widespread in Canada, the United States, and northern Mexico.

<i>Calystegia soldanella</i> Species of morning glory

Calystegia soldanella is a species of bindweed known by various common names such as sea bindweed, seashore false bindweed, shore bindweed, shore convolvulus and beach morning glory.

<i>Tyta</i> Genus of moths

Tyta luctuosa is a noctuid ("owlet") moth. Its common names include four-spotted moth and field bindweed moth. It is the only member of the genus Tyta, which belongs to the Metoponiinae subfamily. The species was first described by Michael Denis and Ignaz Schiffermüller in 1775. The genus was erected by Gustaf Johan Billberg in 1820.

<i>Cynoglossum officinale</i> Species of flowering plant

Cynoglossum officinale is a herbaceous plant of the family Boraginaceae.

<i>Anchusa officinalis</i> Western eurasian species in the borage family

Anchusa officinalis, also knowns as common bugloss or common alkanet, is a species of flowering plant in the borage family. It is native to Europe and small parts of western Asia, but has been escaped from cultivation to grow in additional locations in Europe and the Americas. The flowers are noted for their popularity with bumblebees due to a large nectar flow. The plants have been used in traditional medicines, but were falling out of favor by the early 1800s. They are still planted in gardens for their popularity with bees and their blue flowers.

Aceria malherbae is a species of gall mite known as the bindweed gall mite. It is used as an agent of biological pest control on invasive species of bindweed, particularly field bindweed.

Arvensis, a Latin adjective meaning in the fields, is the specific epithet of the following:

British NVC community OV15 is one of the open habitat communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. It is one of two arable weed communities of light lime-rich soils.

British NVC community OV17 is one of the open habitat communities in the British National Vegetation Classification system. Although classed with communities OV15 and OV16 as an arable weed community of light lime-rich soils, it also shares many features with the communities classed as arable weed and wasteland communities of fertile loams and clays.

<i>Systropha</i> Genus of bees

The genus Systropha comprises several species of Old World sweat bees, primarily specialist pollinators of plants in the genus Convolvulus. Males of the genus have unusual curled antennae, and females have pollen-carrying hairs covering almost the entire abdomen.

References

  1. ↑ Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012. Webb's An Irish Flora. Cork University Press. ISBN   978-185918-4783
  2. 1 2 3 4 Govaerts, Rafaël (2021). "Convolvulus arvensis L., Sp. Pl.: 153 (1753)". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 Wunderlin, R. P.; Hansen, B. F.; Franck, A. R.; Essig, F. B. (8 July 2021). "Convolvulus arvensis". Atlas of Florida Plants. Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  4. ↑ Choisy, Jacques Denys (1845). Prodromus systematis naturalis regni vegetabilis (in Latin). Vol. 9. Paris: Fortin, Masson et sociorum. pp. 406, 407. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.286.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fang, Ruizheng; Staples, George (1995). "Convolvulus arvensis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 153. 1753". Flora of China. Vol. 16 (Gentianaceae through Boraginaceae). St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
  6. 1 2 Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. and Warburg, E.F. 1968 Excursion Flora of the British Isles Second Edition Cambridge University Press. ISBN   0-521-04656-4
  7. 1 2 3 4 Reader's Digest Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain. Reader's Digest. 1981. p. 250. ISBN   978-0-276-00217-5.
  8. 1 2 3 4 Muma, Walter. "Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)". Ontario Wildflowers. Walter Muma. Retrieved 10 July 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bidding Farewell to the Dreaded Bindweed". Oregon State University Extension Service. September 2008. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019.
  10. 1 2 Fang, Ruizheng; Staples, George (1995). "Convolvulus Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 153. 1753". Flora of China. Vol. 16 (Gentianaceae through Boraginaceae). St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
  11. ↑ Fang, Ruizheng; Staples, George (1995). "Convolvulus steppicola Handel-Mazzetti, Symb. Sin. 7: 810. 1936". Flora of China. Vol. 16 (Gentianaceae through Boraginaceae). St. Louis: Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Coombs, E. M., et al., Eds. (2004). Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Corvallis: Oregon State University Press, 151.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Oberdorfer, Erich (2001). Pflanzensoziologische Exkursionsflora für Deutschland und angrenzende Gebiete. Unter Mitarbeit von Angelika Schwabe und Theo Müller. 8., stark überarbeitete und ergänzte Auflage (in German). Stuttgart (Hohenheim): Eugen Ulmer. p. 772. ISBN   3-8001-3131-5.
  14. ↑ Michener, C.D. (2000). The Bees of the World. Johns Hopkins University Press
  15. ↑ Bogusch, Petr; Bláhová, Eliška; Horák, Jakub (21 October 2020). "Pollen specialists are more endangered than non-specialised bees even though they collect pollen on flowers of non-endangered plants". Arthropod-Plant Interactions. 14 (6): 759–769. doi:10.1007/s11829-020-09789-y. S2CID   226325867.
  16. ↑ Fraberger, Raphaelo J.; Ayasse, Manfred (October 2007). "Mating Behavior, Male Territoriality and Chemical Communication in the European Spiral-Horned Bees, Systropha planidens and S. curvicornis (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)". Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 80 (4): 348–360. doi:10.2317/0022-8567(2007)80[348:MBMTAC]2.0.CO;2. JSTOR   25086401. S2CID   86029808 . Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  17. ↑ Müller, Andreas; Krebs, Albert; Amiet, Felix (1997). Bienen. Mitteleuropäische Gattungen, Lebensweise, Beobachtung (in German). Augsburg: Naturbuch-Verlag. ISBN   3-89440-241-5.
  18. 1 2 3 "Impact Assessment - Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) in Victoria (Nox)". Victorian Resources Online. State of Victoria (Agriculture Victoria). 1996. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Zouhar, Kris (2004). "SPECIES: Convolvulus arvensis". Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  20. ↑ Ziska, L. H. (2003-01-02). "Evaluation of the growth response of six invasive species to past, present and future atmospheric carbon dioxide". Journal of Experimental Botany. 54 (381): 395–404. doi:10.1093/jxb/erg027. ISSN   0022-0957.
  21. ↑ Todd, Fred G.; Stermitz, Frank R.; Schultheis, Partricia; Knight, Anthony P.; Traub-Dargatz, Josie (May 1995). "Tropane alkaloids and toxicity of Convolvulus arvensis". Phytochemistry. 39 (2): 301–303. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(94)00969-Z. PMID   7495531.
  22. ↑ Vet Hum Toxicol. 1995 Oct;37(5):452-4. Toxicity of field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) to mice. Schultheiss PC1, Knight AP, Traub-Dargatz JL, Todd FG, Stermitz FR.
  23. ↑ Sosnoskie LM, Hanson BD, Steckel LE (2020) Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis): “all tied up”. Weed Technol. 34: 916–921. doi: 10.1017/wet.2020.61 Received: 22 March 2020 Revised: 2 June 2020 Accepted: 4 June 2020 First published online: 16 July 2020
  24. ↑ "The 10 Types of Weeds That Are Most Dangerous for Your Crops". www.gvcfarmsupply.com. 2018-10-31. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  25. 1 2 3 4 Beddes, Taun (24 September 2014). "Tips on Controlling Bindweed". Utah State University Extension. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019.
  26. ↑ USDA Forest Service. "Weed of the Week: Field Bindweed" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2019.
  27. ↑ "StackPath". www.gardeningknowhow.com. Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  28. ↑ Cortat, Ghislaine (15 November 2018). "Convolvulus arvensis (bindweed)". Invasive Species Compendium. CAB International. Archived from the original on 16 July 2019.
  29. ↑ "Our lady's little glass". Grimms' Fairy Tales. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
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