Convolvulaceae: Convolvulus arvensis

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Family Name

Convolvulaceae

Common Name

Field bindweed, Creeping jenny

Description

Convolvulus arvensis is a rhizomatous, perennial, widely spreading, decumbent to vining herb with multiple stems growing up to 2 m in length, the stems smooth and lacking tendrils, lying on the ground or wrapping around plants and fences for support. The simple, alternate leaves are variable, ovate to heart shaped to arrowhead shaped, the petioles are 3-40 mm long, and the blades are 1-10cm long by 0.3-6 cm wide, the margins are entire to wavey, the lobes sometimes with 2-3 teeth. The axillary flowers are solitary or with 2-3 flowers on peduncles 1-9 cm long and pedicels 5-18 mm long. Each flower is subtended with 2 linear to elliptic bracts, < 1 cm long and about 2-3 cm below the flower. The 5 rounded, unequal sepals are 3-5 mm long by 2-5 mm wide, the inner ones largest, smooth to hairy. The funnel shaped corolla is white, often tinged with pink, with a yellow patch at the base, 12-25 mm long and about as wide at the opening. The 5 lobes of the corolla are very shallow. There are 5 stamens and a pistil with a divided style that are white, except the anthers that are often purple. Each flower usually lasts only 1 day. The fruit is a round to ovoid capsule, 5-7 mm in diameter. Field bindweed blooms from June into August in in disturbed ground throughout South Dakota.

Additional Notes

Although an attractive flower and a plant once used in gardens, field bindweed is classified as a noxious or prohibited weed or weed seed in SD and 34 other states in the U.S. and 5 Canadian provinces. It should be removed from any garden.