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57.) CONVOLVULACEAE - Bindweed family

CONVOLVULACEAE - Bindweed family

CONVOLVULUS L.

  • Convolvulus arvensis L. var. arvensis (Field Bindweed) / - numerous forms to be included General Very Common Very common in rough and short open grassland, grassy banks, roadside verges, gardens, allotments, arable fields, brownfield sites and sand dunes. Sadly (along with our other bindweeds) it is regarded by many as a 'pestilent weed'. It is loathed by many gardeners due to its deep tangled fleshy root structure which is difficult to eradicate on account of its ability to regenerate from the smallest of fragments. The fact that some will happily battle with nature to grow other very similar-looking members of the same family such as Morning Glory, whilst completely disregarding this native, even when not in direct conflict, is quite baffling. It is really a very beautiful plant, coming in a plethora of colour forms (which are detailed below) and is hugely important to a wide range of invertebrates; particularly as a late and prolonged bloomer - filling in the late summer gap when many of our wild flowers have finished and before later flowering species have begun. White (1912) gives the alternative name Withy-wind which is derived from its past association of entwining around willow crops.

Alternative:

. Comes in a plethora of colour forms; the most common in our region being f. pentarrhabdotus (corollas pink with white stripes), followed by f. pallidinotatus (corollas white with small pink dashes around the yellow centre). The f. dacarrhabdotus (like f. pentarrhabdotus but a deeper pink and ten white stripes) was found at Sand Point in 2022 by D. Peters and f. decemvulnerus a particularly beautiful form (like f. dacarrhabdotus but with a dark red ring around the yellow centre) was found on a grass bank outside Badock's Wood in 2023 by D. Peters. Further forms are likely to be encountered. They are listed below:

  • f. arvensis Inside of corolla pure white with a yellow centre. Appears to be widespread.

  • f. notatus P.D. Sell Like f. arvensis but with an additional ring of purple dashes around the yellow centre. Recorded at Brislington Meadows in 2022 by D. Peters.

  • f. pallidiroseus P.D. Sell Inside of corolla pure faint pink with a yellow centre.

  • f. pallidinotatus P.D. Sell Like f. pallidiroseus but with an additional ring of purple dashes around the yellow centre.

  • f. pentarrhabdotus P.D. Sell Inside of corolla Pink with five white stripes reaching the outer edge. Appears to be the most common form in our region.

  • f. pentastictus P.D. Sell Like f. pentarrhabdotus but with an additional ring of purple dashes around the yellow centre.

  • f. perroseus P.D. Sell Like f. pentarrhabdotus but the white stripes only reaching half way, leaving a solid pink band around it. Recorded at Ashton Court Estate in 2021; on the edge of a car park on Wellington Hill, Horfield, Bristol in 2023; and at the Crescent, Bath in 2024 by D. Peters.

  • f. quinquevulnerus P.D. Sell Like f. perroseus but with an additional ring of purple dashes around the yellow centre. What appears to be the same plant is described by Riddelsdell (1948) but no records are given: "One notable colour scheme includes an outer ring of pink with a yellow centre relieved by a deep pink ring near the base of the flower".

  • f. decarrhabdotus P.D. Sell Inside of corolla pink with ten white stripes. Recorded at Westbury Wildlife Park, Westbury-on-Trym in 2021; Sand Point in 2022; and at Riverside Park, Bristol in 2024 by D. Peters.

  • f. decemvulnerus P.D. Sell A very beautiful form, like f. decarrhabdotus but with an additional ring of intense purple dashes around the yellow centre. Recorded on a grass Bank outside Badock's Wood, Bristol in 2023 by D. Peters.

  • Convolvulus tricolor L. (ssp. tricolor) (Tricoloured Convolvulus) General Very Rare Included in ornamental seed mixes and rarely persists. Recorded on several occasions by D. Peters: on ground being engulfed by Rubus armeniacus outside St Mary Redcliffe and Temple School on Clarence Road, Bristol in 2023; as a relic at Lake Grounds, Portishead during a BNS New Year Plant Hunt in 2023; and at Pomphrey Hill Pavilion, Mangotsfield in 2025.

  • Convolvulus stachydifolius var. stachydifolius Choisy (Woundwort-leaved Bindweed - Flora of Israel and adjacent areas) - [Glos. Fl.] General Extinct A native of the Middle East; recorded at Ashton Gate in 1937 by C.I. Sandwith [BMAG] - a first and only record for the British Isles.

CALYSTEGIA R. Br.

  • Calystegia soldanella (L.) R. Br. (Sea Bindweed) - Coasts Very Rare Very rare and in small quantity on the sand dunes at the Kewstoke end of Sand Bay. Otherwise only recently recorded at Uphill Local Nature Reserve in 2008 by R. Smith. It was previously more widespread along this section of coast but the decline of it's required open habitat through invasive Sea Buckthorn scrub and over trampling has restricted it to this last remaining good habitat. "Its showy flowers are so much gathered by our watering-place populations that I fear the plant is gradually disappearing from the district. The long, strong rootstock, however, renders it difficult to extirpate." (White, 1912).

1914 20/06/1914 ST3261 Weston-Super-Mare Sandwith I Cecil 9526 1915 12/07/1915 ST3263 Kewstoke Bay, North Somerset Sandwith I Cecil 9526 1985 25/07/1985 ST335654 Kewstoke, Sand Bay McDonnell, Mrs E. 1986 16/07/1986 ST314597 Weston Super Mare Golf Course Hedley Mr. S. M. Stuart 20 1986 1986 ST313593 Weston Super Mare Hedley Mr. S. M. Stuart 20 1992 July 1992 ST313593 Weston-super-Mare, dunes Randall D Rob 55 1992 21/03/1992 ST331655 North Somerset, Kewstoke Randall D Rob 55 2008 09/06/2008 ST316582 Uphill LNR Smith Mr Richie 2881

  • Calystegia sepium (L.) R. Br. ssp. sepium (Hedge Bindweed) / Woodland Common Common over much of the region in hedges, scrub, woodland edge, gardens and allotments but is perhaps over-recorded for C. silvatica around Bristol where it is distinctly scarcer despite what the map portrays. Otherwise commonly known as Great Bindweed.

first recorded on a ditch bank in field between Tickenham and Nailsea in 1944 by C.I. Sandwith.

  • f. sepium Woodland Common The nominate form with the same range and distribution as the species.

  • f. colorata (Lange) Dörfl. Woodland Very Rare With pink white-striped corollas. No recent records but it is likely to be overlooked. Recorded on a railway bank at Weston and Bath in 1935 by J.P.M. Brenan (Bristol Botany in 1935); "Along a hedge in meadow-land between Tickenham and Nailsea...C.I. Sandwith" (C.I. Sandwith in Bristol Botany in 1944); "Ashley Hill; Eastville, C. Sandwith" (Riddelsdell, 1948); and more recently found climbing over scrub at Clevedon in 1999 by ?. ssp. roseata also with pink white-stripped corollas but with stems, petioles and pedicels sparsely hairy may be expected to occur as well.

  • Calystegia sepium x C. silvatica = C. x *lucana* (Ten.) G. Don (Hedge x Large Bindweed) - General Rare Sporadically recorded over the region wherever the two parents meet. It is probably over-looked. First recorded at Haycombe Cemetery, Englishcombe in 1983 by R.D. Randall.

[More records on BSBI.]

  • Calystegia pulchra Brummitt & Heywood (Hairy Bindweed) - General Very Rare A rare introduction. First recorded growing in an urban hedge at Trymside, Sea Mills in 1984 by I.F. Gravestock; then at Avonmouth Sewage Works in 1985 by R.J. Higgins; on a railway bank at Winscombe in 1987 by I.P. Green (seen here again in 1991 by R.D. Randall); Entry Hill & The Tumps, Odd Down in 1990 by R.D. Randall; Lamplighters in 1991-92 by R. Roger; Cheddar Valley Railway Walk, south of Winscombe Station in 1997 by J.P. Martin; Abotts Leigh Churchyard in 2011 by P. Millman; Cannon's Marsh in 2011 by C. & M.A.R. Kitchen; and most recently encountered at ST76F in 2010s by ? [BSBI record].

  • Calystegia silvatica (Kit.) Griseb. (Large Bindweed) / General Common A common introduction; found in cultivated and disturbed settings as well as more natural environments such as hedges, along fences, gardens, allotments, railway lines and brownfield sites. This has become far more frequent than its native lookalike Hedge Bindweed and often replaces it in urban areas. It's hard to believe that it was only first recorded in our region at Ashley Hill, Bristol in 1941 (Riddelsell, 1948). Bumblebees often chew through to get to the nectar when the flowers are closed and upon opening, they leave a series of symmetrical holes around the margin like paper snowflakes.

both taxa are quite common but the former occurs in more 'natural' settings such as hedgerows, often replacing C. sepium in Bristol City. The latter prefers more wasteland areas such as along railway lines and allotment margins.

  • ssp. silvatica var. sylvatica General Frequent The nominate plant with larger flowers and more strongly pouched bracteoles which measure about twice as wide as long and are rounded to emarginate at the apex. Widespread but predominantly in more urban areas.

  • ssp. silvatica var. quinquepartita N. Terracc. (Large Bindweed) - 1 record according to NBN General Very Rare With deeply divided corollas. Recorded once at Portbury in 2013 by C.M. Lovatt.

  • ssp. disjuncta Brummitt var. disjuncta (Large Bindweed) / General Common The more common plant with smaller flowers and close fitting bracteoles which are about as long as wide and are obtuse at the apex. This is frequent in more natural settings as well as urban areas.

  • ssp. disjuncta Brummitt var. zonata Beauverd (Large Bindweed) / General Scarce With pink stripes on the outside of the corolla. Appears to be widespread but infrequent.

IPOMOEA L.

  • Ipomoea purpurea Roth (Common Morning-glory) 1928 General Extinct A native of Nort America; recorded at Eastville in 1921 and Bedminster in 1928 by C.I. Sandwith [BMAG].

  • Ipomoea tricolor Cav. (Mexican Morning-glory - Wikipedia, Grannyvine - GBIF) General Extinct A native of Mexico; recorded at Bedminster, Bristol in 1928 by ? [BMAG] and at Callington Road Nature Reserve, Brislington, Bristol in 2014 by S. Pike.

[1928 record specimen needs checking as the record is mentioned under I. purpurea in Sandwith (1932). Perhaps it was later redetermined? 2014 record is almost certainly a mistake.]

  • Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. (Ivy-leaved Morning-glory) General Extinct A native of Nort America; recorded growing as a casual of Soyabean waste at Royal Portbury Dock in 1994 by R.J. Higgins.

  • Ipomoea lacunosa L. (White Morning-glory) General Extinct A native of south-eastern North America; found with the last species growing on Soyabean waste at Royal Portbury Dock in 1994 by R.J. Higgins.

CUSCUTA L.

  • Cuscuta suaveolens Ser. (Lucerne Dodder - NBN, Fringed Dodder - GBIF) - 5. Baptist Mills, B.E.C., 1932, 346. General Extinct A native of South America; recorded on Medicago lupulina at Baptist Mills, Bristol in 1927 by C.I. Sandwith.

  • Cuscuta australis R. Br., var. cesatiana (Bertol.) Yunck. (Australian Dodder - NBN, GBIF) - 5. Kingswood, B.E.C., 1932, 346. General Extinct A native of the Mediterranean and western Asia; recorded on Polygonum aviculare at Kingswood in 1932 by C.I. Sandwith (as C. tineoi ssp. cesatiana).

  • Cuscuta campestris Yunck. (Yellow Dodder) General Very Rare A very rare alien; recorded growing as a parasite on Christmas Cactus at Windmill Hill, Bristol in 1999; and as a parasite on Field Bindweed, associated with birdseed aliens at Bedminster Down in 2025 by R.J. Higgins.

[I seem to remember Gean Oliver recorded it from her garden on bean plants. Rupert's 2025 record in SRPG Newsletter 2025, p. 58.]

  • Cuscuta epilinum Weihe (Flax Dodder) 1896 General Extinct "Alien; parasitic on flax wherever cultivated, and most destructive to the crop. Keynsham; T.B. Flower. Mr. Flower informed me that his plant, gathered on flax, was C. epilinum and not Epithymum as is stated in Swete, Fl. p. 54. On flax in plenty, between Compton Martin and Ubley; also at West Harptree, on the road to Cheddar; T. B. Flower...(1840). Near Bristol, 1840; Mrs. Russell in Herb. Brit. Mus. Miss Roper has some specimens labelled 'West Harptree, July, 1847.' The collector unknown. No doubt the flax dodder came to this country in that remote period when the flax industry was introduced; and being unable to live on any other host is not likely to occur in a district from which the cultivation has died out. In consequence this plant is no longer known about Bristol." (White, 1912).

  • Cuscuta approximata Bab. (which sspp. and var? - ssp. approximata?) (Alfalfa Dodder - GBIF) 1906 General Extinct Recorded in 1906 according to the Flora of the Bristol Region (2000).

[Can't locate record.]

  • Cuscuta europaea L. (Greater Dodder) - Wetland Rare Localised along the banks of the River Avon from Conham to Batheaston where it Parasitises a range of herbaceous plants but mostly Common Nettle.

  • Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L. (ssp. epithymum) (Dodder) - Grassland Very Rare Very sporadically recorded over our region in grassland but has only been seen once since 2000 - from Swainswick in 2011 by ?. Historically plants growing as a parasite of Red Clover were referred to as C. trifolii but it is considered to be synonymous today.

"Appeared at Shirehampton, on a bank of the new Portway to Avonmouth, 1923" (Sandwith, 1932 [as C. trifolii]).

"Slope above Tickenham...towards Naish House, on Trifolium pratense on ground recently put into cultivation, C.I. and N.Y. Sandwith. In two spots near Coombe Hay...growing on a number of species in different families, D. Coombe and C.L. Walton." (C.I. Sandwith in Bristol Botany in 1944).

20 records 1st is 1920 08/09/1920 ST330635 Kewstoke Bay, North Somerset Sandwith I Cecil 9526

List:

  • Convolvulus arvensis L. (var. arvensis - Stace, NBN) (Field Bindweed) / - numerous forms to be included General
  • Convolvulus tricolor L. ssp. tricolor (Tricoloured Convolvulus) General
  • Convolvulus stachydifolius var. stachydifolius Choisy (Woundwort-leaved Bindweed - Flora of Israel and adjacent areas) - [Glos. Fl.]
  • Calystegia soldanella (L.) R. Br. (Sea Bindweed) - Coasts
  • Calystegia sepium (L.) R. Br. ssp. sepium (f. sepium?) (Hedge Bindweed / Great Bindweed - NBN) / Woodland
  • Calystegia sepium ssp. sepium f. colorata (Lange) Dörfl. (Stace, NBN) (Hedge Bindweed / Great Bindweed - NBN) - 1 record according to NBN Woodland
  • Calystegia sepium x C. silvatica = C. x lucana (Ten.) G. Don (Hedge x Large Bindweed) - General
  • Calystegia pulchra Brummitt & Heywood (Hairy Bindweed) - General
  • Calystegia silvatica (Kit.) Griseb. (ssp. disjuncta Brummitt and ssp. silvatica var. sylvatica - Stace, NBN) (Large Bindweed) / - both taxa are quite common but the former occurs in more 'natural' settings such as hedgerows, often replacing C. sepium in Bristol City. The latter prefers more wasteland areas such as along railway lines and allotment margins. General
  • Calystegia silvatica ssp. silvatica var. quinquepartita N. Terracc. (Stace, NBN) (Large Bindweed) - 1 record according to NBN General
  • Calystegia silvatica ssp. disjuncta Brummitt (Stace, NBN) var. disjuncta (Large Bindweed) / General
  • Calystegia silvatica ssp. disjuncta Brummitt (Stace, NBN) var. zonata Beauverd (Large Bindweed) / General
  • Ipomoea purpurea Roth (Common Morning-glory) 1928 General
  • Ipomoea tricolor Cav. (Mexican Morning-glory - Wikipedia, Grannyvine - GBIF) General
  • Ipomoea hederacea Jacq. (Ivy-leaved Morning-glory) General
  • Ipomoea lacunosa L. (White Morning-glory) General
  • Cuscuta suaveolens Ser. (Lucerne Dodder - NBN, Fringed Dodder - GBIF) - 5. Baptist Mills, B.E.C., 1932, 346. General
  • Cuscuta australis R. Br., var. cesatiana (Bertol.) Yunck. (Australian Dodder - NBN, GBIF) - 5. Kingswood, B.E.C., 1932, 346. General
  • Cuscuta campestris Yunck. (Yellow Dodder) General
  • Cuscuta epilinum Weihe (Flax Dodder) 1896 General
  • Cuscuta approximata Bab. (which sspp. and var? - ssp. approximata?) (Alfalfa Dodder - GBIF) 1906 General
  • Cuscuta europaea L. (Greater Dodder) - Wetland
  • Cuscuta epithymum (L.) L. (Dodder) - Grassland

Species to add:

  • Convolvulus stachydifolius var. stachydifolius Choisy (Woundwort-leaved Bindweed - Flora of Israel and adjacent areas) - [Glos. Fl.] /
  • Calystegia sepium ssp. sepium f. colorata (Lange) Dörfl. (Stace, NBN) (Hedge Bindweed / Great Bindweed - NBN) - 1 record according to NBN /
  • Calystegia silvatica ssp. silvatica var. quinquepartita N. Terracc. (Stace, NBN) (Large Bindweed) - 1 record according to NBN /
  • Calystegia silvatica ssp. disjuncta Brummitt (Stace, NBN) var. disjuncta (Large Bindweed) /
  • Calystegia silvatica ssp. disjuncta Brummitt (Stace, NBN) var. zonata Beauverd (Large Bindweed) /
  • Ipomoea tricolor Cav. (Mexican Morning-glory - Wikipedia, Grannyvine - GBIF) /
  • Cuscuta suaveolens Ser. (Lucerne Dodder - NBN, Fringed Dodder - GBIF) - 5. Baptist Mills, B.E.C., 1932, 346. - to be added before C. australis /

  • Cuscuta australis R. Br., var. cesatiana (Bertol.) Yunck. (Australian Dodder - NBN, GBIF) - 5. Kingswood, B.E.C., 1932, 346. - to be added before C. campestre /

  • Cuscuta tinei Insenga ssp. cesatiana (Bert.)

Convolvulus arvensis var. stonestreetii - not sure I believe it - data entry needs to be checked Ipomoea tricolor

Plants added by me:

  • Convolvulus tricolor L. ssp. tricolor (Tricoloured Convolvulus) /