THE BINDWEED FAMILY 343 



as in the gentians, separate at the base, and thus assume the 

 shape of an arrow head. They produce large pollen grains. 

 These, however, are considerably exceeded in size by the 

 pollen of the melon and marrow. Insects alighting on the 

 long projecting style, smear it with pollen from the flowers 

 they have visited, and so cross-pollination is effected. This at 

 least is the method probably adopted in most of the species. 

 However, C. sepium in Europe is chiefly pollinated by a 

 particular species of hawk-moth {Sphinx convolvuli), and the 

 areas of distribution of the plant and moth largely correspond. 

 Still, the plant often does not set seed. It would be 

 interesting to examine the process of pollination of the New 

 Zealand species, and find what insect takes the place of the 

 European moth. 



Calystegia sepium {The Binchoeed). 



Stem slender, climbing. Leaves 2 in. -4 in. long, oblong, deeply lobed at the 

 base, lobes rounded or truncate. Bracts enclosing the calyx longer than the 

 sepals. Corolla bell-shaped, 2 in. -4 in. broad, white. Both islands, becoming 

 less common towards the South. Fl. Dec. -Feb. 



A very handsome plant, which becomes a mischievous weed 

 in gardens. It not only sends up thousands of suckers which 

 exhaust the soil ; but also strangles and smothers with its 

 entwining stems and large leaves, any other plant which may 

 be near. 



C. sepium was known to the Maoris as "pohue," and the 

 roots were used by them for food. This is strange, as those of 

 the English plant supposed to belong to the same species, are 

 considered purgative. A similar case is that of Solanum 

 nigriun, a cosmopolitan plant, whose leaves are usually 

 considered poisonous, and yet were used by the Maoris as 

 greens. As is well known to gardeners, the Convolvulus is 

 abundantly provided with roots, hence doubtless the Maori 

 proverb given by Colenso : — 



" He nui pohue toro ra raro." 

 The Convolvulus (roots) are many and spread below. 

 ■' The thoughts of man's mind are many and secret. 



