III.] CONVOLVULACE^. 247 



65. Natural Order, Convolvulacece. — The Bindweed Family. 



Herbs, shrubs, or rarely trees, usually twining or prostrate 

 {Otsaita parasitical), with alternate leaves and usually showy 

 regular flowers with a plaited corolla. Ovar)' two- to four- 

 celled. Seeds definite. 



Type — The Elephant Creeper {Argyreia speciosa). 



A twining shrub, with alternate, heart-shaped leaves 

 silvery below with silky hairs, and large, handsome, axillary, 

 rose-coloured, regular flowers. 



Observe the membranous, accrescent bracts of the 

 Indian genus Neuropeltis : the plaited aestivation of the 

 corolla. Compare the berried fruit of Argyi-eia with the 

 capsular fruit of any of the numerous Indian species of 

 Ipomxa (two-celled), of Pharbitis nil (three-celled), or of 

 the small-flowered Poranas (one-celled). 

 * The Family is principally, but not wholly, tropical ; a few 

 species occur in Britain, and one {Convolvulus arvmsis), a 

 common weed there, also occurs (introduced) in Northern 

 India. The flowers of most of the genera are very hand- 

 some, and many of them are favourite garden climbers. 



