CONVOLVULUS Oil BIND\VErD. 133 



In Jamaica this species of Convolvulus climbs the 

 liigliest trees, suspending its china-looking cups 

 from the branches in a most delighftul manner, 

 sometimes dangling in the air, and at others form- 

 ins {graceful festoons. 



It is from this twining nature of the plant that 

 the name of Convolvulus has been bestowed on it ; 

 and perhaps we have not a native weed that dis- 

 plays a more beautiful corolla than the Great Bind- 

 weed or Convolvulus Sepium, which entwines itself 

 so firmly amongst the shrubs of our hedgerows until 

 it reaches the top, where it expands its monopetalous 

 flowers in a dress that challenges the spotless snow 

 for purity, and would demand more general admi- 

 ration were it less common. 



'V^'itness tlie neglect 

 Of all familiar prospects, though beheld 



"With ti'ansport once. 



Akenside. 



However we may admire this species of Bind- 

 weed in our hedgerows, v,e must be cautious to keep 

 it out of shrubberies, in which, if it once enter, it 

 cannot be easily eradicated, as the smallest piece of 

 its rambling roots is sufficient to spread over a gar- 

 den, where it frequently entwines its roots amongst 

 those of Roses or other shrubs, so as to make it ex- 

 ceedingly difficult to prevent its overpowering the 

 plants which support it, and next to impossible to 

 destroy it altogether. We are told that swine are 



