246 CONVOLVULACE^ 



Order LVII. CONVOLVULACEiE— BINDWEED TRIBE. 



Calyx inferior, of 4 — 5 sepals, nob falling off; corolla funnel-shaped, bell- 

 shaped, or tubular, regular, plaited ; stamens 5, from the base of the corolla ; 

 ovary 2 — 4-celled, few-seeded, surroimded below by a fleshy ring ; style 1 ; 

 stigmas 2 ; capsule 1 — 4-celled. This order consists either of herbs or shrubs 

 which are generally climbing, bearing large and showy floAvers and milky 

 juices. One of our British genera, CuMida, is parasitic, and has no leaves. 



1. Bindweed {Convolvulus). — Corolla vase-shaped, with 5 plaits and 5 very 

 shallow lobes ; style 1 ; stigmas 2 ; capsule 2-celled and 2-valved. Name 

 from the Latin convolvo, to entwine, from the twisting habit of many species. 



2. Hooded Bindweed {Calystt^gia). — Calyx with 5 sepals inclosed within 2 

 very large opposite bracts ; corolla vase-shaped ; style 1 ; stigma 2-lobed ; 

 capsule 2-celled, 1-valved. Name from the Greek kalos, beautiful, and dene, 

 a covering, from its bracts. By some authors the species are included in the 

 genus Convolvulus. 



3. Dodder (CusciUa). — Calyx 4 — 5-cleft ; corolla pitcher-shaped, 4 — 5- 

 cleft, with 4 — 5 scales at the base within. Name said to be derived fi^om the 

 Arabic Iceshouf, to bind. 



1. Bindweed {Convdlwlus). 



Field Bindweed (C. arvi'nsis). — Stem climbing ; leaves arrow-shaped, 

 their lobes acute ; stalks mostly single-flowered ; bracts minute, distant from 

 the flower ; perennial. Everybody knows the pretty pink or white vase-like 

 cups of the small Bindweed, which, in June and July, rise from trailing stems 

 on many a wayside bank, shutting up at night or when rain is coming. The 

 farmer knows them but too well, for this plant is one of the most trouble- 

 some weeds of his cornfield, twining itself around the stalks of the wheat or 

 barley, and taking such good hold that no wind or weather can rend it from 

 its support. A blade of grass, a tall nettle, a bush, or any other object near 

 it, is soon garlanded with its numerous almond-scented flowers. It has many 

 country names, as Bindweed, Bearbind, Hedgebell, Ropewind, Withywind — 

 all expressive of its clinging habits, besides some names which betoken the 

 dislike entertained of the intruder, and which are unsuited to our pages. In 

 France the plant is called Le liseron cles chamjjs ; and in Germany Die JFinde. 

 In Italy the Convolvulus has the name of Vilucchio ; and the Spaniards call 

 it Correguela. It is most difficult of eradication, for the white jointed roots 

 not only increase readily, but are very tenacious of life, and penetrate to such 

 a depth in the soil as to lie almost beyond the reach of the ordinary instru- 

 ments of culture ; while, if only a small piece is left in the earth, it soon 

 sends forth its trailing stem above the surface. In light dry soils, which are 

 peculiarly adapted to it, the roots sometimes extend three feet below the 

 surface. Miller says, that its abundant growth is often a sign that gravel 

 lies beneath. Its seed-vessels are so rarely formed that Sir J. E. Smith 

 remarks that ho had never seen them ; and many botanists believed, some 

 years since, that the seed was not perfected in this country. That opinion 

 is now known to be erroneous, and the author has gathered near Ramsgate 

 several of the dry capsules, which are about as large as a pea, containing the 



