Convolvulus is a genus of about 200 to 250 species of flowering plants in the bindweed family Convolvulaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution; the Plants of the World Online database currently accepts 227 species and 12 natural hybrids. Common names include bindweed and morning glory; both are names shared with other closely related genera.

Taxonomy

The genus Calystegia, until recently widely accepted, has been shown to be genetically embedded within Convolvulus, and is now treated as a synonym of it by the Plants of the World Online database.

Ecology

alt=A bush with small leaves and thorns has Convolvulus vines growing up through and on top of it; these have broad green leaves and many white flowers with shallow trumpeting, a roughly pentagonal outline, and a small area of yellow in the centre around the filament.|thumb|[[Convolvulus leiocalycinus growing on another plant]]

Many of the species are invasive weeds; but others are cultivated for their attractive flowers, while some are globally threatened.

Convolvulus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the convolvulus hawk moth, the sweet potato leaf miner (Bedellia somnulentella) and the gem; the leaf miner Bucculatrix cantabricella feeds exclusively on C. cantabricus.

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File:PikiWiki Israel 7035 Plants of Israel.jpg|Convolvulus dorycnium

File:Convolvulus sabatius0.jpg|Convolvulus sabatius

File:Convolvulus tricolor.jpg|Cultivated Convolvulus tricolor

File:Convolvulus althaeoides 1-fruto.jpg|Convolvulus althaeoides

File:Convolvulus arvensis -flower view 01.jpg|Convolvulus arvensis

File:Convolvulus cneorum (habitus).jpg|Convolvulus cneorum in Catalonia, Spain

File:Convolvulus Cephalopodus in Behbahan, Iran (1).jpg|Convolvulus cephalopodus in Behbahan

File:Семечко вьюнка.jpg|Seed under a microscope

</gallery>

References

  • Flora Europaea: Convolvulus