Bayshore/ Hedge Bindweed

COMMON NAME: Hedge Bindweed

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Wild Morning Glory, Bracted Bindweed, Creepers, Hedge Lily, Lady’s Nightcap. Greater Bindweed

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Calystegia sepium

FAMILY: Convolvulaceae

COMMUNITY: Tidal Marsh

STATUS: Native and Introduced forms from Eurasia

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: Vine with stem to 9 feet

FLOWERING TIME: Late May to early August

FRUITING TIME: not known

DISTRIBUTION: Throughout North America and NJ

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Twining, branching vine, sometimes  trailing or creeping.  ~ Leaves long, long stalk, triangular to oblong ~ Flowers solitary, pink or white, morning-glory like, 5 sepals, petals and stamens, petals 2 to 4.5 inches long ~ Fruit is a capsule, it closes in damp weather

GENERAL INFORMATION: The Convolvulaceae family commonly called the Morning-Glory  family consists of 57 genera and 1,500 species of mostly twining and climbing vines, a few shrubs and one tall tree.  Latin convolvere means “to twine around”. In the late 1600s, it was recognized that the roots of the Convolvulus were a very acrid purgative to humans.  Of one preparation it was said “there is so much difference in the purgative virtues of some masses of it, and that of others, that it is seldom to be depended upon alone in extemporaneous practice, might it not be prepared here much purer and be more uniform in its virtue? Thoreau (1854) wrote “Well named morning glory.  Its broad, bell-and trumpet-shaped flowers, faintly tinged with red, are like the dawn itself”. The 2000 edition of the PDR for Herbal Medicines reports that Calystegia sepium contains glycoretines and tannins.  As a pharmaceutical, it has a powerful effect as a smooth muscle stimulant, increasing intestinal paristalisis and increasing bile production.  The pressed juice of the upper part of the plant and powdered root can be used for fever, urinary tract diseases, as a purgative for constipation and to increase bile production.  It is rarely used because of its strong intestinal effects.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.