Hedge bindweed

Appearance

It is an herbaceous perennial that twines around other plants, in a counter-clockwise direction, to a height of up to 2-4 m, rarely 5 m. The pale matt green leaves are arranged spirally, simple, pointed at the tip and arrowhead shaped, 5-10 cm long and 3-7 cm broad.

The flowers are produced from late spring to the end of summer. In the bud, they are covered by large bracts which remain and continue to cover sepals. The open flowers are trumpet-shaped, 3-7 cm diameter, white, or pale pink with white stripes. After flowering the fruit develops as an almost spherical capsule 1 cm diameter containing two to four large, black seeds that are shaped like quartered oranges. The seeds disperse and thrive in fields, borders, roadsides and open woods.

Several regional subspecies have been described, but they are not considered distinct by all authorities:
⤷ "Calystegia sepium" subsp. "americana". North America.
⤷ "Calystegia sepium" subsp. "angulata". North America.
⤷ "Calystegia sepium" subsp. "appalachiana". Eastern North America.
⤷ "Calystegia sepium" subsp. "binghamiae". Western North America.
⤷ "Calystegia sepium" subsp. "erratica". North America.
⤷ "Calystegia sepium" subsp. "limnophila". Southern North America.
⤷ "Calystegia sepium" subsp. "roseata". Western Europe, coasts. Flowers pink.
⤷ "Calystegia sepium" subsp. "sepium". Europe, Asia.
⤷ "Calystegia sepium" subsp. "spectabilis". Siberia. Flowers often pinkish.

Other vernacular names include greater bindweed, bearbind, hedge convolvulus, hooded bindweed, old man's nightcap, wild morning glory, bride's gown, wedlock, white witches hat, belle of the ball.

Naming

*"Calystegia silvatica", giant bindweed, is sometimes treated as a subspecies of "C. sepium"
⤷ Field Bindweed is a similar vine with much smaller features. The rear margin leaf projections are sharp. The leaves of the Wild Potato Vine are shaped like a heart, not like an arrowhead.