Black Bindweed (Plants of the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum Grounds, Chicago, Illinois)

Black Bindweed

Fallopia convolvulus

Summary ⁷

Fallopia convolvulus (black-bindweed or wild buckwheat) is a fast-growing annual flowering plant in the family Polygonaceae native throughout Europe, Asia and northern Africa. It is an arable plant.

Comments ⁸

The foliage and vine-like growth of Black Bindweed has a striking resemblance to the Convolvulus spp. (Bindweeds) and Ipomoea spp. (Morning Glories). However, Black Bindweed is a shorter and less robust vine and its flowers have a dramatically different appearance from the flowers of the preceding species. The Fallopia spp. (Climbing Buckwheats) are vines with a climbing habit, unlike the closely related Persicaria spp. (Smartweeds) and Polygonum spp. (Knotweeds). Unlike Black Bindweed, the other Fallopia spp. that occur in Illinois are robust perennial vines that can become 20' long. Like many Rumex spp. (Docks), their achenes have conspicuous membranous wings, while the keeled achenes of Black Bindweed are without wings. Another scientific name for Black Bindweed is Polygonum convolvulus.