Convolvulus arvensis is a herbaceous perennial vine that arises from a deep penetrating root system. The stems are slender and glabrous or finely pubescent, about 1.5 m long.
It can be easily identified by its tangled and dense climbing or creeping vines and showy white to pink funnel-shaped flowers.
Convolvulus arvensis Classification
- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Dicotyledonae
- Order: Solanales
- Family: Convolvulaceae
- Genus: Convolvulus
- Species: Convolvulus arvensis
- Varieties: C. arvensis f. arvensis, C. arvensis var. Hastulatus Meisn, C. arvensis var. angustatus Ledeb, C. arvensis var. crassifolius Choisy, C. arvensis var. Linearifolius Choisy, C. arvensis var. Sagittifolius Turcz, and C. arvensis var. villosus Choisy.
- Common Names: Morning glory, Field morning-glory, European bindweed, Lesser bindweed, Small bindweed, Chardvel, White convolvulus, and Creeping jenny.
Nativity and Distribution
Field bindweed is native to Europe and Asia. Today, it is found in most parts of the world including:
- Africa
- Australia
- South America
Physical Characteristics
- Leaves: Simple glabrous or pubescent with entire margin
- Fruits: Light brown, 5-10mm long capsule
- Stems: Slender climbing or creeping vines
- Flowers: 10-25mm wide, funnel-shaped, white or pink flowers
- Roots: Vertical taproot and lateral roots.
Convolvulus arvensis is a herbaceous perennial plant. It can be easily identified by its tangled climbing or creeping vines and showy white to pink funnel-shaped flowers.
Stems are slender, green with red hues, glabrous or finely pubescent, and can trail or grow up to 150 cm with support. They are flexible to allow anticlockwise twining on support plants, allowing them to grow and spread.
The leaves are alternate, glabrous or pubescent (may have scattered hairs) with an entire margin. Leaf blades vary in shape, from lanceolate, or ovate to narrow-oblong and are about 1.5-6 cm wide and 1.2-10 cm long.
Flowers are 2.5-3 cm wide, white or pink, funnel-shaped, with 5 pubescent lobes. The heads are borne in clusters at the end of the stems or on the leaf axils. They open in the morning and close in the evening. Flowering occurs between June and August.
The seeds are dark brown to black, 3-5mm in diameter, with two flat sides and one round side.
Reproduction, Dispersal, and Life Cycle
- Life Cycle: Perennial
- Seeds: Can produce 25-500 seeds
- Climate: Temperate, tropical, and mediterranean climates
- Dispersal: Water, animals, and agricultural activities
C. arvensis behaves as a perennial and reproduces by seeds and underground rhizomes. A single plant can produce between 25-500 seeds.
Seeds germinate on the soil surface or in shallow soil (to a depth of 6cm). Seeds at greater depths remain viable for over 20 years. They are widely dispersed by water, birds, and contaminated agricultural equipment, seeds, and soil.
Field bindweed is also propagated by underground rhizomes that spread in all directions, readily giving rise to new fragments once cut or broken.
In competitive environments, the weed uses its twining habit to ascend over other plants, giving it access to sunlight that aids in survival and reproduction.
Similar Plants
- Convolvulus siculus
- Convolvulus farinosus
- Convolvulus sagittatus
- Polygonum convolvulus
- Calystegia sepium
Uses
- It has been used as a traditional medicine to treat spider bites.
- Tea made from the leaves is used to treat fevers and wounds.
- Its stems are used to make ropes.
- It is used to make green dye.
- It is used to add flavoring to liqueur.
- The weed has been used in preventing soil erosion and as ground cover due to its extensive root system. However, these uses are highly discouraged due to the plant’s invasive nature.
Impact on Farms and Environment
C. arvensis is a serious weed in cropping systems. It not only competes for important resources but also chokes crops, leading to reduced yields and subsequent economic losses.
It negatively affects annual crops like corn, wheat, rice, soybeans, and chickpeas. It also causes serious problems in horticultural farms.
Apart from competition for resources, the weed can also hamper crop harvesting as the desirable plants get entangled in the twining vines. Field bindweed also harbors dangerous viruses like tomato spotted wilt virus and potato X virus which can cause significant crop loss.
Additionally, the weed contains alkaloids that can cause gut problems to cattle and horses if ingested in large quantities.
Due to its rapid growth and climbing habit, field bindweed is considered a noxious weed in many states in the United States and Australia. It is also listed as a noxious weed in other countries like Kenya and Tanzania.
The weed can rapidly outcompete native vegetation and decrease biodiversity, severely altering habitats.
Control
- Cultural control: Grazing
- Mechanical control: Deep cultivation and mulching
- Chemical control: Herbicides like Dicamba, 2,4-D, Picloram, and Glyphosate
Repeated grazing of sheep and cattle can help limit the spread and provide long-term control of field bindweed on farmlands. However, excess consumption of the weed can harm the animal’s health and extra caution is required.
Thorough and persistent cultivation when the stems emerge has been shown to successfully control the weed. Deep cultivation (up to 7.5-10 cm) eradicates the stems and the resilient root fragments.
Applying a 2-3 inch layer of mulch on desirable plants in gardens can help block out sunlight, limiting the weed’s growth and spread.
Numerous herbicides can provide better C. arvensis control. They include Dicamba, 2,4,-D, Picloram, and Glyphosate. Consult an expert for more information on the right herbicide application for your crop or garden plants.
Several biological agents have been released for field bindweed control including the gall mite, Aceria malherbae and stem-boring fly Melanagromyza albocilia. However, the results are inconsistent and require more research and monitoring.
Lead Editor for Insight Weeds.