Convolvulaceae (), commonly called the bindweeds or

morning glories Morning glory (also written as morning-glory) is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, whose current taxonomy and systematics are in flux. Morning glory species belong to many genera, some of ...

, is a

family Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Idea ...

of about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species. These species are primarily herbaceous

vine A vine (Latin ''vīnea'' "grapevine", "vineyard", from ''vīnum'' "wine") is any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent (that is, climbing) stems, lianas or runners. The word ''vine'' can also refer to such stems or runners themsel ...

s, but also include

tree In botany, a tree is a perennial plant with an elongated stem, or trunk, usually supporting branches and leaves. In some usages, the definition of a tree may be narrower, including only woody plants with secondary growth, plants that are ...

s, shrubs and herbs. The

tubers Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing s ...

of several species are edible, the best known of which is the sweet potato.

Description

Convolvulaceae can be recognized by their funnel-shaped, radially symmetrical corolla; the floral formula for the family has five sepals, five fused

petals Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''corolla''. Petals are usually ...

, five epipetalous

stamens The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10 Morphology and terminology A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...

(stamens fused to the petals), and a two-part syncarpous and superior

gynoecium Gynoecium (; ) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more) ''pistils' ...

. The stems of these plants are usually winding, hence their Latin name (from ''convolvere'', "to wind"). The leaves are simple and alternate, without

stipule In botany, a stipule is an outgrowth typically borne on both sides (sometimes on just one side) of the base of a leafstalk (the petiole). Stipules are considered part of the anatomy of the leaf of a typical flowering plant, although in many speci ...

s. In parasitic

Cuscuta ''Cuscuta'' (), commonly known as dodder or amarbel, is a genus of over 201 species of yellow, orange, or red (rarely green) parasitic plants. Formerly treated as the only genus in the family Cuscutaceae, it now is accepted as belonging in the ...

(dodder) they are reduced to scales. The fruit can be a capsule, berry, or nut, all containing only two seeds per one locule (one

ovule In seed plants, the ovule is the structure that gives rise to and contains the female reproductive cells. It consists of three parts: the '' integument'', forming its outer layer, the ''nucellus'' (or remnant of the megasporangium), and the ...

/ ovary).

The leaves and starchy,

tuberous root Tubers are a type of enlarged structure used as storage organs for nutrients in some plants. They are used for the plant's perennation (survival of the winter or dry months), to provide energy and nutrients for regrowth during the next growing s ...

s of some species are used as foodstuffs (e.g. sweet potato and

water spinach ''Ipomoea aquatica'', widely known as water spinach, is a semi- aquatic, tropical plant grown as a vegetable for its tender shoots. ''I. aquatica'' is generally believed to have been first domesticated in Southeast Asia. It is widely cultivate ...

), and the seeds are exploited for their medicinal value as

purgative Laxatives, purgatives, or aperients are substances that loosen stools and increase bowel movements. They are used to treat and prevent constipation. Laxatives vary as to how they work and the side effects they may have. Certain stimulant, lubri ...

s. Some species contain

ergoline Ergoline is a chemical compound whose structural skeleton is contained in a variety of alkaloids, referred to as ergoline derivatives or ergoline alkaloids. Ergoline alkaloids, one being ergine, were initially characterized in ergot. Some of thes ...

alkaloids that are likely responsible for the use of these species as ingredients in psychedelic drugs (e.g. ololiuhqui). The presence of ergolines in some species of this family is due to infection by

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

related to the ergot fungi of the genus '' Claviceps''. A recent study of Convolvulaceae species, ''

Ipomoea asarifolia ''Ipomoea asarifolia'', the ginger-leaf morning-glory, is a species of plant in the family Convolvulaceae, of the genus ''Ipomoea ''Ipomoea'' () is the largest genus in the plant family Convolvulaceae, with over 600 species. It is a larg ...

'', and its associated

showed the presence of a fungus, identified by DNA sequencing of 18s and ITS

ribosomal DNA Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) is a DNA sequence that codes for ribosomal RNA. These sequences regulate transcription initiation and amplification, and contain both transcribed and non-transcribed spacer segments. In the human genome there are 5 chromo ...

and

phylogenetic analysis In biology, phylogenetics (; from Greek φυλή/ φῦλον [] "tribe, clan, race", and wikt:γενετικός, γενετικός [] "origin, source, birth") is the study of the evolutionary history and relationships among or within groups o ...

to be closely related to fungi in the family

Clavicipitaceae The Clavicipitaceae are a family of fungi within the order Hypocreales. A 2008 estimate placed 43 genera in the family, but recent work has increased this number to 97. Phylogeny Molecular phylogenetic analysis of multigene DNA sequence data in ...

, was always associated with the presence of ergoline alkaloids in the plant. The identified fungus appears to be a seed-transmitted, obligate biotroph growing

epiphytic An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...

ally on its host. This finding strongly suggests the unique presence of ergoline alkaloids in some species of the family Convolvulaceae is due to symbiosis with clavicipitaceous fungi. Moreover, another group of compounds, loline alkaloids, commonly produced by some members of the clavicipitaceous fungi (genus ''

Neotyphodium ''Neotyphodium'' is a genus of endophytic fungi symbiotic with grasses. It used to contain a number of asexually reproducing species that colonize the leaves of cool-season grasses, but most of them, including the type species '' N. coenophial ...

''), has been identified in a convolvulaceous species, but the origin of the loline alkaloids in this species is unknown. Members of the family are well known as showy garden plants (e.g.

morning glory Morning glory (also written as morning-glory) is the common name for over 1,000 species of flowering plants in the family Convolvulaceae, whose current taxonomy and systematics are in flux. Morning glory species belong to many genera, some of ...

) and as troublesome weeds (e.g.

bindweed Bindweed may refer to: * Some species of Convolvulaceae (bindweed family or morning glory family): ** '' Calystegia'' (bindweed, false bindweed, morning glory), a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants ** ''Convolvulus'' (bindweed, morning ...

(mainly ''

Convolvulus ''Convolvulus'' is a genus of about 200 to 250''Convolvulus''.
Flora of China.

'' and ''

Calystegia ''Calystegia'' (bindweed, false bindweed, or morning glory) is a genus of about 25 species of flowering plants in the bindweed family Convolvulaceae. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution in temperate and subtropical regions, but with half o ...

'') and

dodder ''Cuscuta'' (), commonly known as dodder or amarbel, is a genus of over 201 species of yellow, orange, or red (rarely green) parasitic plants. Formerly treated as the only genus in the family Cuscutaceae, it now is accepted as belonging in the ...

), while '' Humbertia madagascariensis'' is a medium-sized tree and '' Ipomoea carnea'' is an erect shrub. Some parasitic members of this family are also used medicinally.

Genera

;Tribe Aniseieae *'' Aniseia'' Choisy *'' Odonellia'' K.R.Robertson *'' Tetralocularia'' O'Donell ;Tribe Cardiochlamyeae *'' Cardiochlamys'' Oliv. *'' Cordisepalum'' Verdc. *'' Dinetus'' Buch.-Ham. ex Sweet *''

Duperreya ''Duperreya'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. Its native range is Australia. Its genus name of ''Duperreya'' is in honour of Louis Isidore Duperrey Louis-Isidore Duperrey (21 October 1786 – 25 August 1 ...

'' Gaudich. *'' Poranopsis'' Roberty *'' Tridynamia'' Gagnep. ;Tribe Convolvuleae *''

'' R.Br. – Bindweed,

*''

Convolvulus ''Convolvulus'' is a genus of about 200 to 250''Convolvulus''.
Flora of China.

'' L. – bindweed, morning glory *'' Jacquemontia'' Choisy *'' Polymeria'' R.Br. ;Tribe Cresseae *'' Bonamia'' Thouars *'' Cladostigma'' Radlk. *'' Cressa'' L. *'' Evolvulus'' L. *'' Hildebrandtia'' Vatke *'' Seddera'' Hochst. *'' Stylisma'' Raf. *'' Wilsonia'' R. Br. ;Tribe Cuscuteae *''

'' L. – dodder ;Tribe Dichondreae *'' Dichondra'' J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. *'' Falkia'' Thunb. *'' Nephrophyllum'' A.Rich. *'' Petrogenia'' I.M.Johnst. ;Tribe Erycibeae *'' Erycibe'' Roxb. ;Tribe Humbertieae *''

Humbertia ''Humbertia'' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Convolvulaceae (morning glory family). It only contains one species, ''Humbertia madagascariensis'' Lam. It is native to Madagascar. It is known in French as ; it is en ...

'' ;Tribe Ipomoeeae *''

Argyreia ''Argyreia'' is a genus of plants in the family Convolvulaceae. Species The following species are recognised in the genus ''Argyreia'': * '' Argyreia adpressa'' (Choisy) Boerl. * '' Argyreia akoensis '' S.Z.Yang, P.H.Chen & Staples * '' Argyr ...

'' Lour. –

Hawaiian baby woodrose ''Argyreia nervosa'' is a perennial climbing vine native to the Indian subcontinent and introduced to numerous areas worldwide, including Hawaii, Africa, and the Caribbean. Though it can be invasive, it is often prized for its aesthetic and med ...

*'' Astripomoea'' A.Meeuse *'' Blinkworthia'' Choisy *''

Ipomoea ''Ipomoea'' () is the largest genus in the plant family Convolvulaceae, with over 600 species. It is a large and diverse group, with common names including morning glory, water convolvulus or water spinach, sweet potato, bindweed, moonfl ...

'' L. –

, sweet potato *'' Lepistemon'' Blume *'' Lepistemonopsis'' Dammer *'' Paralepistemon'' Lejoly & Lisowski *'' Rivea'' Choisy *''

Stictocardia ''Stictocardia'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Convolvulaceae. Its native range is Tropical and Subtropical Old World The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became ...

'' Hallier f. ;Tribe Maripeae *'' Dicranostyles'' Benth. *'' Itzaea'' Standl. & Steyerm. *'' Lysiostyles'' Benth. *'' Maripa'' Aubl. ;Tribe Poraneae *'' Calycobolus'' Willd. ex Schult. *'' Dipteropeltis'' Hallier f. *'' Metaporana'' N.E.Br. *'' Neuropeltis'' Wall. *'' Neuropeltopsis'' Ooststr. *'' Porana'' Burm.f. *'' Rapona'' Baill. ;''

Incertae sedis ' () or ''problematica'' is a term used for a taxonomic group where its broader relationships are unknown or undefined. Alternatively, such groups are frequently referred to as "enigmatic taxa". In the system of open nomenclature, uncertain ...

'' *'' Camonea'' Raf. *'' Daustinia'' Buril & Simões *'' Decalobanthus'' Ooststr. *'' Distimake'' Raf. *'' Hewittia'' Wight & Arn. *'' Hyalocystis'' Hallier f. *'' Keraunea'' Cheek & Sim.-Bianch. *'' Merremia'' Dennst. ex Endl. – Hawaiian woodrose *''

Operculina ''Operculina'' is a genus of plants in the Convolvulaceae, morning-glory family which that are found throughout the world. Species The following species are recognised in the genus ''Operculina'': *''Operculina aequisepala'' (Domin) R. W. Johns ...

'' Silva Manso *'' Remirema'' Kerr *'' Xenostegia'' D.F.Austin & Staples

References

External links

Convolvulaceae Unlimited
Flowers in Israel {{Authority control Asterid families

Description

Genera

References

Further reading

External links