Fallopia convolvulus (L.) . LveBlack Bindweed | |
Introduced CC = * CW = 3 MOC = 32 | |
© DETenaglia |
Family - Polygonaceae Stems - Twining, herbaceous, to +1m long, angled or ribbed, retrorse strigose on angles and ribs, often reddish in strong sun, branching, multiple from base. Leaves - Alternate, petiolate. Petioles with a deep adaxial groove, retrorse strigose, to +2cm long. Blades sagittate, acute to acuminate, entire, glabrous, strigillose on the margins, to +4cm long, +3cm broad.
Inflorescence - Axillary and terminal flowers. Axillary flowers typically single or paired. Terminal flowers in bracteate racemes, in whorls of 4 at each node of the raceme, often subtended by reduced foliaceous bracts. Axis of racemes retrorse strigillose. Pedicels reddish in strong sun, 1-2mm long, mostly glabrous.
Flowers - Perianth greenish and often with whitish or pinkish apical margins, quickly expanding in size to 4mm long (1-2mm in flower). Stamens 6-8. Anthers pinkish, bilobed, .3mm broad. Filaments short, white, glabrous, .5mm long. Ovary superior, green, glabrous, 3-angled, .7mm long in flower. Style short, green, glabrous, .1mm long. Stigma green, capitate, .1-.2mm broad. Seeds dull black but shiny on the angles, 3-angled, to 3mm long.
Flowering - May - September. Habitat - Waste ground, disturbed sites, open woods, roadsides, railroads. Origin - Native to Europe. Other info. - This species can be found throughout Missouri and is becoming more common. It spreads very quickly. Photographs taken off Hwy H, Shannon County, MO., 7-18-03. |