Convolvulus 
OR 
Sepium. Large white Convolvulus 
great Bindweed. 
CONVOLVULUS Lmruei. Gen. PI. Pentandkia Monogynia. 
Rail Syn. Gen . 18. H e R b .E fructu sicco singulari flore monopetalo. 
CONVOLVULUS (fepium ) foliis fagittatis, pollice truncatis, pedunculis tetragonis, unifloris. Lmn. Syft. 
Vegelab. p. 168. FI. Succic. p. 64. 
CONVOLVULUS foliis fagittatis, hamis emarginatis, angulofis, petiolis unifloris, ftipulis cordatis maximis. 
Haller, hjjl. V. i. p. 295. 
CONVOLVULUS Major albus. Bauhin. pin. 294. 
SMILAX laevis- major. Gerard emac. 861. Parkinfon. 163. Rail Syn. p. 275. Great Bindweed. Hudfon, 
FI. Angi. p. 74. Scopoli. FI. Carniol. 141. FI. Dan. icon. 458. 
RADIX perennis, craffitie penna; anferinae, alba, fub 
terra reptans et late fe propagans, vix eradi- 
canda, Hortorum peftis. 
CAULES numerofi, volubiles, tortuofi, ftriati, orgyales, 
fubramofi. 
RAMI pauci, alterni, cauli fimiles. 
FOLIA alterna, fagittata, pollice truncata, glabra, pe- 
tiolata. 
PEDUNCULI uniflori, alterni, tetragoni. 
CALYX Involucrum biphyllum, foliolis oblongo-cor- 
datis, fubcarinatis, venofis, purpurascentibus. 
jig. 1. 
CALYX Perianthium pentaphyllum, tubulofum, fo- 
liolis ovato-lanceolatis, pallide virentibus, jig. 1. 
COROLLA monopetala, infundibuliformis, ladtea, limbo 
lato, obfcure divifo, paululum reflexo. 
STAMINA: Filamenta quinque, fundo corollse in- 
ferta, hirfutula, alba, fabulata ; Anther® 
fagittata:, alb<£, infldentes. Jig. 3. 
PISTILLUM : Germen fubovatum; Stylus fubulatus 
apice tortuofus ; Stigma bifidum, jig. 4. 5. 
NECTARIUM : Glandula crocea annuliformis ad bafin 
Germinis. 
PERICARPIUM : Capsula fubrotunda, fuliginofa, 
mucronata jig. 6. 7. 
SEMINA angulofa, fufea, Cotyledonibus mire convolu- 
tis. jig- 8. 9. 
ROOT perennial, about the thicknefs of a goofe quill, 
; . of a white colour, creeping under the ground 
v and propagating itfelf exceedingly, rooted out 
;; with the greateft difficulty, and hence very 
: • troublefome in Gardens. 
STALKS numerous, twining, twilled, ftriated, gener- 
; . ally about fix feet high and fomewhat branched. 
•: BRANCHES few, alternate, like the Stalk. 
;; LEAVES alternate, arrow-ffiaped, apparently cut off 
behind, fmooth, and placed on foot-ftalks. 
■ ; FOOT-STALKS of the flowers, alternate, fupporting 
; , one flower only, and four fquare. 
:: CALYX an Involucrum compofed of two heart-lhaped 
leaves, {lightly keel-lhaped, veiny, and pur- 
•• plilh. jig. 2. 
]' CALYX a Perianthium, compofed of five leaves and 
, tubular, the leaves of an oval pointed ffiape and 
:: pale green colour, jig. 1. 
COROLLA monopetalous, funnel lhaped, of a white co- 
il lour, the limb broad, obfeurely divided, and 
turned back a little. 
STAMINA: five Filaments inferted into the bottom 
: of the corolla, {lightly hairy, white and taper- 
ing, the Anther.® arrow lhaped, white, and 
• | fitting on the filaments, fig: 3. 
PISTILLUM. Germen fomewhat oval, Style taper- 
; ; ing, twilled at top ; the Stigma bifid, fig. 4 .5. 
■ : NECTARY a yellow gland furrounding the bale of the 
; ; Germen. 
:• SEED-VESSEL a roundilh Capsule of a footy colour 
and pointed, fig, 9. 7. 
SEEDS angular and brown, the Cotyledons folded up 
■ : in a very lingular manner, fig. 8. 9. 
X 
The plant which produces the Scammony is a fpecies of Convolvulus, very fimilar to that which we have now 
deferibed, hence Dr. Cullen and fome other Phyficians have conjedtured that our Convolvulus might poflefs 
fimilar properties, but if it Ihould be found to contain fuch properties, the fmallnefs of it roots would prevent 
its juice from being colle&ed in the lame manner with that which flows on incifion from the large root 
of the Scammony plant, and which hardens and forms that purgative fubftance. Whether an extradl made 
from the exprelled juice of the roots, or any other preparation of them might poffefs a purgative property, 
or if it Ihould, whether fuch a purgative would be fo far fuperior to any now in general ufe as to introduce 
it defervedly into practice, is what we cannot pretend to decide on. Hogs are faid to eat and even to be fond 
of the roots. 
It grows exceedingly common in our hedges, and flowers in Auguft and September. Where it has once 
gained ground it is with the greateft difficulty eradicated : was it not for this property and its being fo com- 
mon, it would doubtlefs be confidered, as it really is, a very ornamental plant. 
My ingenious Friend Mr. Church, Surgeon, at Iflington, (who has taken much pains to colledl and ac- 
quire a knowledge of our Englilh Infects) informs me that the Caterpillar of the Ph alter a Vibicaria or Bloody 
vein Moth, (vid. Clerc. Phalan. pi. 3. fig. i.) feeds on this plant, and the Sphinx Convolvuli or Unicorn H.nsjk 
Moth , (vid. Roefel. Cl. 1. pap. no ft. t. 7.) is well known to take its name from feeding on this plant alfo. 
