Calystegia Sp. - Morning-glory
Family: Convolvulaceae (Dodder) [E-flora]
Calystegia soldanella |
Calystegia sepium |
"Perennial herb, subshrub from caudex or rhizome, glabrous to tomentose. Stem: short to high-climbing, generally twisting, twining. Leaf: generally > 1 cm, linear to reniform or sagittate to hastate (deeply divided). Inflorescence: peduncle generally 1-flowered; bracts generally ± opposite, lobed or not, > 1 mm below calyx, not hiding it, small, to < 1 mm below calyx, hiding it or ± so, large. Flower: generally showy; corolla glabrous, white or yellow to pink or purple; ovary chamber 1, style 1, stigma lobes 2, oblong, tips obtuse. Fruit: ± spheric, ± inflated. Seed: generally ± 4.
± 25 species: temperate, worldwide. (Greek: hiding calyx, by bracts of some) [Brummitt 2002 Madroño 49:130–131] Intermediates common, often difficult to identify. Molecular evidence indicates close relationship with Convolvulus (Carine et al. 2004 Amer J Bot 91:1070–1085). Bracts qualify as bractlets by some definitions. Leaf blade length measured along midrib." [Jepson]
Local Species;
- Calystegia soldanella - Beach bindweed [E-flora]
- Calystegia sepium - Hedge false bindweed [E-flora]
References
- [Jepson] R.K. Brummitt, 2013. Calystegia, in Jepson Flora Project (eds.) Jepson eFlora, http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_IJM.pl?tid=11473, accessed on Jun 5 2015
Calystegia soldanella - Beach bindweed
"Calystegia soldanella is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 0.6 m (2ft).
It is hardy to zone 6. It is in flower from Jun to August. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, lepidoptera.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil." [PFAF]
This is a blue-listed taxon in BC
"General: Perennial from a deep rhizome; stems creeping but not twining, 10-30 cm long." [IFBC-E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Moist to mesic sand dunes in the lowland zone; infrequent along the coast; S to CA, also in the islands of the Pacific Ocean and Europe." [IFBC-E-flora]
Status: Native [E-flora]
Hazards
- Purgative
- "This species is said to be purgative[173], some caution is advised." [PFAF]
Edible Uses
- Young Shoots
- "Young shoots - cooked as a vegetable or pickled and used as a samphire substitute[2, 105]." [PFAF]
Other Uses
- String
- "The stems are very flexible and are used as a string for tying[66]. Fairly strong but not long-lasting[K]." [PFAF]
"Antiscorbutic, diuretic, febrifuge, irritant, purgative and vermifuge[218]." [PFAF]
Cultivation & Propagation
"Easily grown in ordinary well-drained garden soil in a sunny position[1, 200]. This species is very difficult to establish successfully in the garden[1]." [PFAF]
"Seed - sow spring in a cold frame in a free draining compost and only just cover. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15oc[138]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring whilst dormant[200]." [PFAF]
Synonyms
- Convolvulus soldanella. [E-flora]
References
- [E-flora] https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Calystegia%20soldanella&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed Jan 15, 2021
- Calystegia soldanella, http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Calystegia+soldanella, Plants For A Future, U.K., Accessed May 30, 2014
- [K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
- [1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- [2]Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- [17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.
- [66]Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery.
- [105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- [138]Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3.
- [173]Crowe. A. Native Edible Plants of New Zealand.
- [200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- [218]Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China
Calystegia sepium ssp. sepium - Hedge false bindweed
Subtaxa Present in B.C.
- Calystegia sepium ssp. erratica
- Calystegia sepium ssp. sepium [E-flora]
"Habitat / Range Moist streamsides, river bottoms and shorelines in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; common in SW BC, infrequent on the Queen Charlotte Islands, rare in NE, SC and SE BC; introduced from E North America." [IFBC-E-flora]
Species Mentioned "The species here considered (also called Convolvulus sepium L.) has a wide natural distribution and consists of several races. Its sylvatica subspecies is our ubiquitous, very familiar Morning Glory, with flowers about 4 inches wide. Other kinds (none native) exist both wild and cultivated hereabouts, but none are as strong or large." [Arthurlee]
"Calystegia sepium is a PERENNIAL CLIMBER growing to 3 m (9ft 10in) at a fast rate.
It is hardy to zone 4. It is in flower from Jul to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, lepidoptera.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil." [PFAF]
Status: Exotic [E-flora]
"General: Perennial herb from an elongate, slender rhizome; stems trailing to climbing, 2-3 m long, glabrous to softly hairy.
- Purgative
- "This species is said to be purgative[173], some caution is advised." [PFAF]
Edible Uses
- Root
- "Stalks and root - cooked[2, 46, 128, 153]. Washed and steamed[179]. A pleasant sweet taste[178]. Rich in starch and sugars, it is very nutritious[179]. It should not be eaten regularly, however, due to its possible purgative effect[179]." [PFAF]
- "The stems along the soil surface can send down roots. The spaghetti-like roots themselves, up to a quarter-inch thick, mostly spread horizontally in the topsoil. Like dandelion roots, they exude a sticky white milky latex, and if chopped into pieces and boiled, make a nutritious, satisfying meal, albeit blandly flavored." [Arthurlee]
- Young Shoots
- "Young shoots - cooked[46, 61, 105]. Some caution is advised since they are possibly purgative[179]." [PFAF]
- "In parts of east Asia, the young spring shoots are similarly used [like dandelion] as a cooked green." [Arthurlee]
Other Uses
- String
- "The stems are very flexible and can be used as an emergency string for tying[6]. It is fairly strong but not very long-lasting[K]." [PFAF]
Medicinal Uses
- Root
- "The root is demulcent, diuretic, febrifuge, poultice and strongly purgative[9, 21, 178, 222]. Use of the root is believed to increase the flow of bile[222]." [PFAF]
Phytochemistry
"The trihydroxy alkaloid, calystegin A3, was a moderately good inhibitor of beta-glucosidase (Ki = 4.3 x 10(-5) M) and a weak inhibitor of alpha-galactosidase (Ki = 1.9 x 10(-4) M). An increased level of hydroxylation, as in the tetrahydroxy calystegins B, consisting of 27% calystegin B1 and 73% calystegin B2, resulted in greatly enhanced inhibitory activity. The calystegins B were potent inhibitors of beta-glucosidase (Ki = 3 x 10(-6) M) and alpha-galactosidase (Ki = 7 x 10(-6) M). These levels of activity are comparable with those of the polyhydroxy indolizidine alkaloids castanospermine and swainsonine toward alpha-glucosidase and alpha-mannosidase, respectively, and of the polyhydroxy pyrrolizidine alkaloid australine toward alpha-glucosidase. The calystegins therefore compose a new structural class of polyhydroxy alkaloids, the nortropanes, possessing potent glycosidase inhibitory properties."[Calystegins]
"Caselpa is a rhizome lectin from Calystegia sepium (Hedge bindweed) that has a dimeric form." [Ipomoelin]
Cultivation & Propagation
"Easily grown in ordinary garden soil in a sunny position, but plants are apt to become invasive[1, 200]. Hedge bindweed is a troublesome garden weed, especially when growing on moist soils[1, 4]. The plant is a vigorous climber with annual shoots 3 metres or more long. These twine around other plants and can kill them by smothering them[4]. Once established, it is very difficult to eradicate the plant because it has very deep roots and is capable of re-growing from any part of the root left in the ground. The flowers open in sunny weather and remain closed during dull weather[4]. Nearly all taxa in Calystegia intergrade geographically into neighboring taxa with the exception of the widespread coastal species, C. soldanella (Linnaeus) R. Brown. It is impossible to draw clearly defined specific limits, and intermediate forms are always found where two taxa approximate geographically[266]." [PFAF]
"Seed - sow spring in a cold frame in a free draining compost and only just cover. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[138]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring whilst dormant[200]." [PFAF]
Synonyms
- Calystegia sepium var. americanum
- Calystegia sepium var. fraterniflora
- Convolvulus sepium L. [E-flora]
References
- [Arthurlee] Wild Morning-Glory, by Arthur Lee Jacobson, http://www.arthurleej.com/a-morningglory.html, Accessed Jan 16, 2021; Originally published as the Seattle Tilth newsletter Weed of the Month in July 1987, along with an illustration drawn by Jerri Geer.
- [Calystegins]Calystegins, a novel class of alkaloid glycosidase inhibitors., R J Molyneux, Y T Pan, A Goldmann, D A Tepfer, A D Elbein, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics 1993-07-01
- [E-flora] https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Calystegia%20sepium&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed Jan 15, 2021
- [Ipomoelin] Ipomoelin, a Jacalin-Related Lectin with a Compact Tetrameric Association and Versatile Carbohydrate Binding Properties Regulated by Its N Terminus, Wei-Chieh Chang,1 Kai-Lun Liu,1 Fang-Ciao Hsu,3 Shih-Tong Jeng,1,2 and Yi-Sheng Cheng, PLoS One. 2012; 7(7): e40618.
- Calystegia sepium, http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Calystegia+sepium, Plants For A Future, U.K., Accessed May 30, 2014
- [K] Ken Fern Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
- [1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
- [2]Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- [4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.
- [6]Mabey. R. Plants with a Purpose.
- [9]Launert. E. Edible and Medicinal Plants.
- [21]Lust. J. The Herb Book.
- [46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- [61]Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
- [105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- [128]Laing. and Blackwell. Plants of New Zealand.
- [138]Bird. R. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 3.
- [153]Brooker. S. G., Cambie. R. C. and Cooper. R. C. Economic
- [178]Stuart. Rev. G. A. Chinese Materia Medica.
- [179]Reid. B. E. Famine Foods of the Chiu-Huang Pen-ts'ao.
- [200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- [222]Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America.
- [266] Flora of China
Image References
- [1] User:Strobilomyces, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- [2] Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons