Eurasian black bindweed
Fallopia convolvulus · Accepted scientific name
Scientific literature: Very Sparse (9 studies) · ★☆☆☆☆
Eurasian black bindweed, scientifically known as Fallopia convolvulus, is a resilient climbing perennial found across Europe and Asia. While often viewed as a persistent garden weed, it possesses significant ethnobotanical value. Traditionally, various parts of this plant have been utilized in folk medicine for their unique bioactive properties.
Names and Synonyms
Common Names
- Eurasian black bindweed
- black bindweed
- climbing buckwheat
- corn bindweed
- cornbind
- wild buckwheat
- Black-bindweed
- climbing-buckwheat
- Black Knot
- Climbing Knotweed
Scientific Names
Accepted name
Fallopia convolvulusSynonyms
- Tiniaria convolvulus
- Fallopia convolvulus var. subalatum
- Polygonum convolvulus var. heterophyllum
- Polygonum convolvulus f. filiformis
- Polygonum convolvulus f. pubescens
- Polygonum convolvulus f. puberulum
- Polygonum convolvulus var. erectum
- Polygonum convolvulus var. cristatum
- Polygonum convolvulus f. glabrum
- Polygonum convolvulus
- Polygonum bertolonii
- Polygonum convolvulaceum
- Reynoutria convolvulus
- Tiniaria carinata
- Bilderdykia convolvulus
- Polygonum convolvulus var. bertolonii
- Helxine convolvulus
- Fagopyrum convolvulus
- Polygonum convolvulus var. subalatum
- Bilderdykia convolvulus var. pumilio
Regional and Traditional Names
Spanish:
- Enredadera negra
- Falsa correhuela
German:
- Windenknöterich
- Acker-Flügelknöterich
- Winden-Knöterich
- Polygonum convolvulus
- Renouée faux-liseron
- Renouée Liseron
- Acker-Windenknöterich
- Winden-Knöterich
- Gemeiner Windenknoeterich
- Gemeiner Windenknöterich
- Windenknöterich
French:
- Renouée liseron
- Renouee faux liseron
- Vrillée sauvage
- renouée faux-liseron
- chevrier
- renouée faux-liseron
- renouée liseron
- Vrillee liseron
- Renouée faux liseron
Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Caryophyllales. Finally, it is a member of the family Polygonaceae and falls under the genus Fallopia.
| Rank | Classification |
|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Streptophyta |
| Class | Equisetopsida |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae |
| Order | Caryophyllales |
| Family | Polygonaceae |
| Genus | Fallopia |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution focused within the northern reaches of Europe. It can be found growing across several different countries, including Denmark and Finland. Its presence extends to the island of Iceland and the archipelago of Førøya. Furthermore, the species is also documented throughout Great Britain. Collectively, these locations highlight its affinity for northern European climates.
| Region | Area |
|---|---|
| Northern Europe | Denmark |
| Northern Europe | Finland |
| Northern Europe | Føroyar |
| Northern Europe | Great Britain |
| Northern Europe | Iceland |
| Northern Europe | Ireland |
| Northern Europe | Norway |
| Northern Europe | Svalbard |
| Northern Europe | Sweden |
| Middle Europe | Austria |
Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)
Botanical Identification
Ecology
The ecology of Fallopia convolvulus is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, specifically showing a strong affinity for anthropic areas (Área Antrópica), where it often thrives in disturbed soils and human-influenced landscapes. This species exhibits a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 3500 m AMSL. Across its geographic spread, it maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1800 m AMSL, demonstrating a capacity to colonize both lowland habitats and high-altitude mountainous regions.
- Elevational range max:
- 3500 m AMSL
- Elevational range mean:
- 1800 m AMSL
- Elevational range min:
- 0 m AMSL
- Habitat :
- Área Antrópica
Life history
The life history of Fallopia convolvulus is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its biological cycle within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it relies on ephemeral seasonal growth, typically surviving the unfavorable periods through the production of seeds rather than persistent above-ground structures. This life form is strictly deciduous, shedding its foliage as the environmental conditions shift. Its developmental strategy is defined by this rapid lifecycle, allowing it to colonize disturbed or open habitats effectively before the onset of dormancy or senescence.
- Deciduousness :
- deciduous
- Life form :
- therophyte
- Lifecycle :
- annual
Morphology
The morphology of Fallopia convolvolus is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial plant exhibits a variable stature, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 10 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.688 m. As a self-supporting climber, it does not rely on other plants for structural integrity, though its shoot orientation is described as prostrate. The shoot length is also quite variable, with measurements spanning from a minimum of 20 cm to a maximum of 100 cm. Functioning as an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, and its life cycle is strictly terrestrial rather than aquatic or epiphytic.
- Aquatic :
- terrestrial
- Climber :
- self-supporting
- Epiphyte :
- terrestrial
- Growth form :
- herb
- Growth form :
- forb
- Parasite :
- independent
- Plant height max:
- 10 m
- Plant height mean:
- 0.688 m
- Plant height min:
- 0.2 m
- Shoot length max:
- 100 cm
- Shoot length min:
- 20 cm
- Shoot orientation :
- prostrate
- Woodiness :
- non-woody
Physiology
The physiology of Fallopia convolvolus is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy that facilitates carbon fixation under moderate environmental conditions. As a non-carnivorous species, the plant relies entirely on autotrophic processes for nutrient acquisition rather than capturing prey. Its leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, while maintaining a mean length of 4 cm. The leaf width shows a similar range of plasticity, spanning from 1.3 cm to a maximum of 5 cm, with a mean width of 3.125 cm. These dimensions contribute to an average leaf size of approximately 6.02667 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 238.75 cm²/g, a metric that reflects its leaf mass per area and provides insight into its resource allocation and photosynthetic efficiency within its ecological niche.
- Carnivory :
- non-carnivorous
- Leaf length max:
- 7 cm
- Leaf length mean:
- 4 cm
- Leaf length min:
- 2 cm
- Leaf size mean:
- 6.02667 cm²
- Leaf width max:
- 5 cm
- Leaf width mean:
- 3.125 cm
- Leaf width min:
- 1.3 cm
- Photosynthetic pathway :
- C3
- Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:
- 238.75 cm²/g
Reproduction
The reproduction of Fallopia convolvulus is characterized by sexual processes through bisexual flowers, although asexual reproduction is notably absent. The flowering period typically commences in July and extends through October. These green flowers, which range in length from 0.2 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm, rely on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects to facilitate fertilization, as self-fertilization is absent. Following pollination, the plant develops dry, black fruits classified as achenes. These fruits are indehiscent and vary in length from a minimum of 0.3 cm to a maximum of 0.5 cm, with an average length of 0.325 cm. Each fruit is highly productive, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean length of 3 mm (ranging from a minimum of 3 mm to a maximum of 3 mm) and a mean volume of 2.6 mm³ (ranging from 1.6 mm³ to 3.6 mm³). The seed mass is also minimal, averaging approximately 0.00476 g, with individual seeds weighing between 0.001 g and 0.0143 g. For dispersal, the species employs a zoochorous strategy, specifically via epizoochory, allowing the seeds to be transported by animals.
- Dehiscence :
- indehiscent
- Dispersal syndrome :
- zoochorous
- Dispersal syndrome :
- epizoochorous
- Flower colour :
- green
- Flower length max:
- 0.5 cm
- Flower length min:
- 0.2 cm
- Flowering time :
- Jul
- Flowering time :
- Oct
- Fruit colour :
- black
- Fruit dryness :
- dry
- Fruit length max:
- 0.5 cm
- Fruit length mean:
- 0.325 cm
- Fruit length min:
- 0.3 cm
- Fruit type :
- achene
- Pollination syndrome :
- insect
- Pollination syndrome :
- biotic
- Reproduction asexual :
- absent
- Reproduction sexual :
- bisexual
- Seed length mean:
- 3 mm
- Seed mass max:
- 0.0143 g
- Seed mass mean:
- 0.00476191666666667 g
- Seed mass min:
- 0.001 g
- Seed volume max:
- 3.6 mm³
- Seed volume mean:
- 2.6 mm³
- Seed volume min:
- 1.6 mm³
- Seeds_per_fruit :
- 101-1000
- Self fertilization :
- absent
Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)
Plant Parts
Fallopia convolvulus has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include seed.
| Plant part | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Seed
- Archiv fur experimentelle Veterinarmedizin
- Science (New York, N.Y.)
Chemicals
Fallopia convolvulus has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Copper sulfate, COPPER, Cu2+.
| Chemical | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Copper sulfate | 2 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| COPPER | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Cu2+ | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Copper sulfate
- Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology
- Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
COPPER
- Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology
Cu2+
- Ecotoxicology and environmental safety
Preparations
Fallopia convolvulus has 6 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include EtOAC extract, ethanol extract, extracts, n-butanol extract, petroleum ether extract.
| Preparation | Supporting sources | Consensus |
|---|---|---|
| Etoac extract | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Ethanol extract | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Extracts | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| N-butanol extract | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Petroleum ether extract | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| Water extract | 1 supporting sources | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Etoac extract
- Journal of Asian natural products research
Ethanol extract
- Journal of Asian natural products research
Extracts
- Science (New York, N.Y.)
N-butanol extract
- Journal of Asian natural products research
Petroleum ether extract
- Journal of Asian natural products research
Water extract
- Journal of Asian natural products research