Eurasian black bindweed

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

Synonyms

• 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

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.

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.

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.

Seed

1. Archiv fur experimentelle Veterinarmedizin
2. 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+.

Copper sulfate

1. Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology
2. Ecotoxicology and environmental safety

COPPER

1. Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology

Cu2+

1. 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.

Etoac extract

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Ethanol extract

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Extracts

1. Science (New York, N.Y.)

N-butanol extract

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Petroleum ether extract

1. Journal of Asian natural products research

Water extract

1. Journal of Asian natural products research