CONVOLVULACEAE MORNING GLORY 701 



The dodders (Cuscuta) belong to the family Cuscutaceae, and are of in- 

 terest in this connection mainly because they are parasitic on clover, alfalfa 

 and other plants. Those growing on the above named plants are Cuscuta 

 arvensis and C. Epithymum; the flax dodder (C. Epilinum) occurs on flax. The 

 plants contain cuscutin. From two independent sources in this country there 

 have come reports that clover dodder is injurious. Dr. J. L. Taylor of Lisbon, 

 Ohio, wrote Prof. A. D. Selby that when dodder was fed to horses it caused 

 bowel trouble. Dr. E. H. Jenkins of Connecticut states that cattle were serious- 

 ly troubled with scours when clover hay in which this plant occurred was a 

 part of the ration. He could not determine whether it was the dodder or the 

 mould which had developed because the dodder had so matted with the clover 

 the hay was not cured well. When this hay was cut out from the ration the 

 trouble ceased. 



Ipomoea L. Morning Glory 



Twining or erect herbs; flowers large, showy, axillary; calyx 5-parted; 

 corolla broadly bell-shaped, 5-cleft; stamens included; pistil with 2-4 celled 

 ovary, 4-6 ovules; style undivided; stigmas capitate, 1, 2 or 3; fruit a globular 

 capsule, 4-6 seeded. About 350 species, tropical, or of warm regions. 



The Ipomoea leptophylla of the plains of Nebraska to Kansas and the 

 Rocky Mountains produces a large root weighing from 10-100 pounds; it has an 

 erect non-twining stem from 2-4 feet high; narrow and long leaves; large pink 

 purple flowers. 



Ipomoea fastigiata Sweet. Man of the Earth. Wild Potato 



A deep rooted, smooth, trailing or twining perennial with a stout, large 

 root occasionally weighing 30 pounds; leaves heart-shaped, acuminate or occa- 

 sionally fiddle- shaped ; peduncles 1-5-flowered; sepals smooth, ovate, oblong, 

 very obtuse; corolla funnel-shaped, 3 inches long, tube purplish; pistil with a 

 2-celled ovary; stigma 2-lobed; each cell 2-seeded. 



Distribution. Common in fields, dry or alluvial grounds from New Eng- 

 land to Florida to Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, to Texas. 



Poisonous properties. The large root of this plant is said to be poisonous; 

 it contains the glucoside ipomoein and is purgative. The same is true of I. 

 leptophylla. The /. Pur go, is regarded as somewhat poisonous. 



Convolvulus (Tourn.) L. Morning Glory or Bindweed 



Herbs or somewhat shrubby plants; twining, erect or prostrate; leaves 

 generally cordate or sagittate and petioled; flowers large and axillary; calyx 

 bractless or with a pair of bracts ; sepals nearly equal ; corolla funnel-form or 

 campanulate; stamens included, inserted on the tube; style undivided or 2-cleft 

 at the apex; stigmas 2, filiform, oblong or ovoid; ovary 1 or 2 celled with 4 

 ovules; fruit a capsule, 1-4 celled, 2-4 valved. About 175 species of wide 

 distribution. 



Convolvulus septum L. Hedge Bindweed 



Smooth, occasionally pubescent, twining around supports or trailing; leaves 

 triangular, halberd or arrow-shaped, the tip acute or pointed, the basal lobes 

 obliquely truncate or sinuate lobed; the flowering peduncles 4-angled, with 2 

 leaf-like bracts which are commonly acute; corolla is white or tinged with rose 

 purple. 



