CONVOLVULUSES 407 



CONVOLVULUSES 



Natural Order Convolvulace^. Genus Convolvulus 



Convolvulus (Latin, convolvo, to twine). A genus of about a hundred 

 and sixty slender herbs or sub-shrubs, mostly trailers or twiners, similar 

 to Ipomcea, but differing from it chiefly in the character of the stigmas 

 and seed-capsule. The stigmas are two, and are oblong or very slender ; 

 the capsule is two -celled. The species are distributed throughout 

 the Tropical and Temperate Regions of the World; three are 

 British. 



Our native Convolvuli are very beautiful plants, but 

 they are seldom cultivated. One good reason for this 

 neglect will be found in the character of their perennial roots, which 

 ramify so extensively in the ground that they rapidly become a nuisance 

 and difficult of extirpation. This is especially the case with the Field 

 Convolvulus, G. arvensis, and in a lesser degree with C. Soldanella which 

 only occurs near the sea. Our Hedge Convolvulus, C. septum, with its 

 very large white corolla and hooded calyx, can be kept more under 

 control, and is well worth introducing where there is a hedge for it to 

 scramble over ; and even C. arvensis is harmless and exquisite if grown 

 in a pot or basket where its roots cannot run. Like Ipomceas, several 

 foreign species of Convolvulus have been cultivated here for long periods. 

 C. althceoides was known in our gardens at least three hundred years ago, 

 though the better-known C. tricolor (the Minor Convolvulus of the 

 seedsman) was not introduced until 1629. C. cneorum, a half-hardy 

 South European shrub with pale pink flowers, was introduced in 1640 ; 

 C. cantahriciis in 1680; C. Scavimonia, which yields the valuable drug 

 Scammony, in 1726. All these species came from Southern Europe or 

 the Levant. The species now in cultivation from farther afield have 

 been introduced chiefly during the present century : such as C. erubescens 

 from Australia (1803), C. pannifoliiis, probably from the Canaries 

 (1805), G. chinensis from China (1817), C. mauritanicus from North 

 Africa, and G. ocellatus from South Africa. 



Convolvulus alth^oides (Althaea - like). Stems 

 ''twining, 2 feet high. Leaves shining, silvery ; some heart- 

 shaped with rounded teeth, others lobed or dissected. Flowers pale red 

 or lilac ; June. Hardy perennial 



C. ARVENSIS (field). Small Bindweed. Stems many, slender, smooth 

 or downy, trailing or twining, 2 or 3 feet long. Leaves variable, spear- 



