CONVOLVULACEiE. 87 



in diameter, with the dissepiment not reaching the apex, glabrous. 

 Seeds large, subtrigonous, brownish-black, smooth. Plant glabrous. 



Large Bindweed, 



French, Liseron des Haies. German, Zaun Winde. 



This beautiful species of Convolvulus is well known and admired by every one, as 

 it hangs its graceful festoons over our hedgerows, opening its white blossoms to the 

 bright sunshine, and gathering their folds together as a rain-cloud foretells the approach 

 of a shower, which would shatter their delicate texture. Many botanists no longer 

 call this i)lant by the old familiar name of our childhood. It is known as Calyslegia ; 

 but we are glad to retain it here without artificial distinction as a Convolvulus. The 

 lovely white blossoms last but for a single day ; hence they are called by the Fi'ench 

 " Belle de jour." They are, however, so rapidly succeeded by a profusion of buds 

 ready to take their places, that the decay is unnoticed, and our attention is diverted 

 fi'om the flower which has lived " its little day," and is now no more. Beauty is not 

 the sole merit of this plant ; the root has properties similar to those of C. Scanimonia, 

 from which the medicine known as scammony is obtained, and this species has been used 

 as its substitute. Galen, as we are informed by Gerarde, recommends the leaves to be laid 

 on hard swellings in order to disperse them. Gerarde will not admit, however, that 

 any of the bindweeds are good as a medicine. He says, " they are not fit for medicine, 

 and unprofitable weeds and luirtful to each thing that groweth next them, and were 

 only administered by yunnagat physickmongers, quacksalvers, old women leeches, 

 abusers of physick, and deceivers of people." 



SPECIES HI-CONVOLVULUS SOLDANELLA. Linn. 



Plate DCCCCXXV. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. XVIII. Tab. MCCCXLI. Fig. 2. 

 Billot, Fl. Gall, et Germ. Exsicc. No. 2317. 



Calystegia Soldanella, R. Br. Choisy in D. C. Prod. p. 433. Hook. & Am. Brit. Fl, 

 p. 286. 



Rootstock creeping. Stem procumbent, not climbing or twisted 

 upon itself. Leaves fleshy, stalked, roundish or reniform, deeply 

 cordate at the base, obtuse, entire. Peduncles axillary, 1-flowered. 

 Bracteoles 2, close to the base of the calyx, very large, oval, 

 obtuse, rather shorter than the calyx. Sepals rather unequal, 

 oblong, obtuse, or abruptly acuminated, free nearly at the base. 

 Corolla four or five times as long as the calyx. 



On sandy seashores. Rather local. In most of the English 

 counties and those on the West of Scotland as far North as 

 Argyleshire, but rare on the East coast, though it occurs in Eorfar 

 in considerable plenty near Carnoustie. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Summer. 



Pwootstock slender, creeping to a great length amongst the 



