Family: Bindweed [Convolvulaceae]

Calystegia

Convolvulus

Cuscuta

Dichondra

Ipomoea

The Dodder Family [Cuscutaceae] has been subsumed into this the Bindweed family. This has added the Dodder Genus Cuscuta to the repertoire. Somewhat perversely, Field Bindweed is the only (UK) plant belonging to the Convolvulus Genus; all the other Bindweeds, such as Hedge Bindweed, Sea Bindweed, Large Bindweed and Hairy Bindweed belong to the Calystegia genus, which is still in the Bindweed Family (Convolvulaceae). Plants from the Calystegia Genus gave their name to certain hydroxy-tropane alkaloids called the Calystegines. There are two plants belonging to the Dock & Knotweed Family, Black Bindweed and Copse Bindweed which share the same common 'surname' as the Convolulaceae Bindweeds, but are un-related to them. The only commonality between the two species is their propensity to climb other plants or thin objects such as wire-mesh fences by entwining, either clockwise, or anti-clockwise. Text on Family goes here