The 'Convolvulaceae', known commonly as the
bindweed or
morning glory family, is a group of about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species of mostly
herbaceous vines, but also
trees,
shrubs and
herbs.
Description
They can easily be recognized by their funnel-shaped radially symmetrical
flowers. These have 5
sepals, a
corolla of 5 united
petals and 5
stamens. The flowers are hypogynous (= having a superior ovary). The stem of these plants is usually winding, hence its Latin name (convolvere = to wind). The leaves are simple and alternate, without stipules. The fruit is a capsule with one to four seeds (sometimes even more), or a berry or a nut.
The leaves and starchy
tuberous roots of some species are used as
foodstuffs (e.g.
sweet potato and
water spinach), and the seeds are exploited for their medicinal value as
purgatives. Some species contain
ergoline alkaloids that are likely responsible for the use of these species as ingredients in
psychedelic drugs (e.g.
ololiuhqui). The presence of ergolines in this plant family is apparently due to infection by
fungi related to the ergot fungi of the genus ''
Claviceps''. A recent study of the Convolvulaceae species, ''Ipomoea asarifolia'', and its associated
fungi showed that the presence of a fungus, identified by
DNA sequencing of 18s and ITS
ribosomal DNA and
phylogenetic analysis to be closely related to fungi in the family
Clavicipitaceae, was always associated with the presence of ergoline alkaloids in the plant. The identified fungus appears to be a seed-transmitted obligate
biotroph growing
epiphytically on its host.
[1] This finding strongly suggests that the unique presence of ergoline alkaloids in some species of the family Convolvulaceae is due to
symbiosis with
clavicipitaceous fungi.
Members of the family are well known as showy garden plants (e.g.
morning glory) and as troublesome weeds (e.g. bindweed).
Tribes
According to the study of D.F. Austin (see Reference) the family Convolvulaceae can be classified in the following tribes:
★ Ericybeae
★ Cressea
★ Convolvuleae
★ Merremioids
★ Ipomoeae
★ Argyreiae
★ Poraneae
★ Dichondreae
★ Cuscuteae (sometimes classified as a separate family
Cuscutaceae).
Genera
Removal of bindweed
When dealing with a troublesome growth of bindweed; the farmer, land manager, or home owner must recognize that there are no ‘quick-fix’ solutions to eliminate it.
Solution 1: patience
★ Black plastic or landscape fabric Weed Barriers covered with an organic mulch deprive bindweed of sunlight and have been used successfully to manage this pest.
★ When employing this method, you must be sure to overlap the sheets of plastic or fabric to prevent the weed from receiving sunlight and be sure that there are no holes in the material, as the weed is very effective at finding light.
★ This method can take up to three or four years, so be patient.
Solution 2: constant vigilance
★ Seedling bindweed (until it's about a month old) is easy to control by pulling it up or cultivating with a hoe.
★ These techniques are also important for managing older bindweed even though you won't kill the plant once it has developed its root system.
★ Eliminating flowers before they set seed is critical, because one plant may produce 500 seeds that can remain viable for 50 years if conditions are right.
★ In addition, removing the above-ground part of the weed repeatedly can deplete the carbohydrate reserves stored in the roots.
★ Allow the plant to grow for about ten days, or until it's about 6 inches long.
★ Then, remove the growing parts to force it to draw on energy stored in the roots while depriving it of the ability to make more.
★ Eventually, the plant will die.
★ Be careful when using this method; bindweed happily propagates itself from inch-sized pieces of roots.
Solution 3: the all-out war
★ Some literature suggests hoeing or cultivating in combination with growing plants that shade out bindweed.
★ The basic idea is to eradicate as much of the existing plant as possible and then bring in plants that compete with the weed's need for food and light. Heavy shade is essential for this method.
★ First, remove all flower heads if they are present as bindweed self-seeds rigorously.
★ Thoroughly fork over the infested garden, diligently removing all plants and roots from the soil, as bindweed can grow from an inch of lurking root!
★ Dig a trench on the borders of your garden and install a rhizome barrier 450mm deep, in high density polyethylene.
★ Remember to keep an eye out for any lurking roots, as within 10 days, you may see little plantlets growing all over your nicely turned garden. Bindweed has brittle roots that will break off very easily when pulled, so dig down and remove the offending individual.
★ Farmers have used sequences of plantings to manage bindweed. Small-scale versions of these solutions can be tailored for use in a home garden.
★
★ One sequence is
rye and
vetch, planted in the fall and disked or hoed down in late spring, followed by
buckwheat or
oats with
peas, disked or hoed down in late summer.
★
★ The final step repeats the rye and vetch.
★
★ The next spring, the land is ready for growing vegetables.
★ According to the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, farmers have also used
pumpkins and
sunflowers to out-compete bindweed.
★
Alfalfa,
legumes, and
corn have also reduced bindweed infestations.
★ Be persistent and you will be rewarded with a bindweed free garden!
References
1. Steiner U. et al. (2006) Molecular characterization of a seed transmitted clavicipitaceous fungus occurring on dicotyledoneous plants (Convolvulaceae). Planta 224: 533-544. PMID 16525783
★ Austin, D. F. (1973) The American Erycibeae (Convolvulaceae): Maripa, Dicranostyles, and Lysiostyles I. Systematics. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 60: 306-412.
★
Austin, D. F. 1997. Convolvulaceae (Morning Glory Family)
★
Convolvulus plant
★
Convolvulaceae in
L. Watson and M.J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The families of flowering plants.
★ Austin, D.F. 2000. Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis, Convolvulaceae) in North America—From medicine to menace. J. Torrey Bot. Soc. 127:172-177
★ Lyons, K.E. 2001. Element stewardship abstract for Convolvulus arvensis L. field bindweed. The Nature Conservancy.
[1]
★ Calif. Dept. of Food and Agriculture. Undated. Field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.).
[2]
★ Univ. of Idaho Extension. 1999. Homewise: No matter what we do, our morning glory weeds come back every year. Any advice? Aug. 23.
[3]
★ Hodges, L. 2003. Bindweed identification and trol options for organic production. NebFacts. Univ. of Nebraska – Lincoln Cooperative Extension.
[4]
★ Univ. of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. 2003. Field Bindweed. Pest Notes. Publ. # 7462.
[5]
★ Washington State Univ. Cooperative Extension. Undated. Hortsense: Weeds: Field bindweed (Wild morningglory): Convolvulus arvensis.
[6]
★ Sullivan, P. 2004. Field bindweed control alternatives. ATTRA. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
[7]
★ Lanini, W. T. Undated. Organic weed management in vineyards. University of California, Davis Cooperative Extension.
[8]
★ Cox, H.R. 1915. The eradication of bindweed or wild morning-glory. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Farmers’ Bulletin 368. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
★ Littlefield, J.L. 2004. Bindweeds. In Biological control of invasive plants in the United States, ed. E.M. Coombs et al. Corvallis OR: Oregon State Universityy Press. Pp. 150-157.
★ New Mexico State Univ. Cooperative Extension Service. 2004. Managing Aceria malherbae gall mites for control of field bindweed.
[9]
★ Cox, Caroline. 2005. Coping with field bindweed without using herbicides. Journal of Pesticide Reform 25(1): 6-7
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