Hedge Bindweed, Convolvulus sepium
 |
| Hedge Bindweed, Convolvulus sepium - Photo Taken July 21, 2003 In Glendale. |
|---|
 |  |
| Hedge Bindweed | Convolvulus sepium |
|---|---|
 |  |
| An Invasive Weed | Roots Over 15 Feet Deep |
Hedge Bindweed Vine Forb/herb. Dicot. Perennial. On the Arizona Department Of Agriculture list of list of noxious weeds that Arizona wants to keep out. Bindweed is a common weed and a problem for many farmers. The weed damags crops by wrapping itself around plants. Growing all over the world, it is sometimes called "the cancer of weeds.” On the good side the plant may have some medicinal purposes. A resin is made from the root which has the following medicinal properties: it promotes the discharge of bile from the system, it increase the secretion and discharge of urine, it has the effect of loosening or opening the intestines, hence stimulating evacuation of faeces and so relieving one from constipation. A proteoglycan mixture (PGM) found in bindweed has been tested to be 100 times more effective at preventing new blood vessel growth than shark cartilage by weight. This testing was done in chicken egg chorioallantoic membranes and was effective in a dose-dependent manner. So what does all that mean? Well, it could be helpfull in the shrinkage of tumors and the assistance in preventing macular degeneration. No testing on humans has been done yet and we would not recommend the use of Bindweed. The plant has a prostrate or underground plant stem, forming shoots above and roots below ground. It serves as a reproductive structure and sometimes they have thickened areas that store starch. The plant is not erect and its trailing stem can extend to a length of several feet. This perennial is a common plant of waste ground, where it either twines around other plants, or sprawls and lies over bare earth. Its loose and unfirm stems are more or less hairless, twining round and give rise to stalked leaves. The leaves are generally arrow shaped up to 40mm long and alternatively arranged along one side of the stem. The flowers have a white color with radial stripes of pink (often star shaped) and a yellowish center from which the 5 stamen and central pistil with 2-parted stigma comes out The ovary is located above the flower parts (the calyx, corolla, and androecium). In other words, the flower parts are attached below the ovary. Its fruit a is rather spherical dehsicent capsule ( A dry round-shaped fruit which splits up open when the seeds are ripe ). It is green which turns yellow/baige on drying out. It holds a maximum of 4 dark brown seeds, which are spherical to oval (lemon shape) with one or two depressions. The seeds are 5 to 6mm in size. Usually only 2 or 3 seeds are found. No obvious method of dispersion, but they are either carried by animals or more probably they just drop off of the plant. They can live in the soil for up to 50 years before germinating. -------------------------------------------- HEDGE BINDWEED-Convolvulus sepium L. DESCRIPTION-Similar to field bindweed, but the 2 bracts are larger, 1/2 to 1 inch long and are immediately below the flower. The flowers are larger, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, and the leaves also are larger, 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long. DISTRIBUTION-Not common in Arizona except locally in somewhat moist soil, from Apache to Coconino counties; 6,000 to 7,000 feet elevation; flowering June to August. Description This smooth, twining vine has funnel-shaped flowers, pinkish with white stripes. Both native and introduced populations in North America. Flowers: 2-3" (5-7.5 cm) long; petals 5, fused together; calyx 5-lobed, enclosed in 2 pale green bracts. Leaves: 2-4" (5-10 cm) long; arrow-shaped or triangular. Height: vine, 3-10' (90-300 cm) long. Flower May-September. Habitat Moist soil along streams, thickets, roadsides, waste places. Range Throughout North America, except far north. Discussion This vine resembles the morning glories (Convolvulus species) and used to be placed in that genus, but differs in having two rounded stigmas rather than one. It can be a pest, twining among and engulfing desirable ornamentals, and is difficult to eradicate without removing the fleshy creeping roots. Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) has smaller flowers and leaves, without bracts, and usually grows on the ground. Erect Bindweed (Calystegia spithamaea) has oval leaves, may be trailing or erect, but does not twine. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Height: Up To About 8 inches. |