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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye.

Bindweed - Convolvulus arvensis

Bindweed Convolvulus is a creeping plant, common to heavy, clay soils. Its roots can reach a depth of 2 meters and more. It is extremely invasive and can ruin a flower bed or a carpet of ground covers. It is also resilient to Roundup when that is applied on its own, but can be eradicated when the Roundup is mixed with the hormonal types of herbicide.

This is a very dangerous procedure and must only be performed by a qualified person. If growing in a bed or border, then tall stakes should be inserted in the ground to encourage the bindweed Convolvulus to climb and "bind" its way up the stake. The plant can then be carefully painted with the appropriate weed killers.

Convolvulus sabatius

For larger spaces, The Morning Glory, Convolvulus sabatius (mauritanicus), is great. It can be planted small, because each plant can cover at least a radius of 1 meter. It has a very prostrate habit, with light purple flowers, most of the year. To be grown in full sun only. Although Ground Morning Glory does tend to spread as a weed a bit, it can be uprooted without resource to spraying.

As far as watering is concerned, both Erodium and Convolvulus can grown on an average shrub regime, about 1/4 of the requirements of a lawn, whereas the Lantana is more thirsty, probably needing an additional 400mm per annum in a Mediterranean climate.

Convolvulus

Convolvulus is a genus of about 250 species of flowering plants in the bindweed family Convolvulaceae, with a cosmopolitan distribution. Common names include bindweed and morning glory, both names shared with other closely related genera.

They are annual or perenial herbaceous vines and (a few species) woods shrubs, growing to 0.3-3 m tall. The leaves are spirally arranged, and the flowers trumpet-shaped, mostly white or pink, but blue, violet, purple or yellow in some species. Many of the species are problematic weeds, which can swamp other more valuable plants by climbing over them, but some are also deliberately grown for their attractive flowers. However, some other species are globally threatened.

CONCLUSION

Fallopia convolvulus is another weed that has a restricted germination 'window' and only occurs in spring-sown crops. It can form very large clumps in open crops such as potatoes but is less aggressive in spring cereals. Like other members of the Polygonaceae it is known to be an important food source for birds, both chicks and adults.