- Convolvulus sepium L. - Morning-glory family Parts Usually
Used Flowering plant, rootstock Description of Plant(s) and
Hedge bindweed is a perennial herbaceous vine; the trailing or
twining stem is glabrous, angular, and from 3-10 feet long,
growing from a creeping rootstock. The leaves are alternate,
sagittate, on slender petioles. The flaring, funnel-shaped
flowers are white or pink with white stripes and grow solitary
on long, quadrangular peduncles from the leaf axils from June to
October. Another variety: Field bindweed (C. arvensis) is a
creeping vine; leaves are arrow-shaped, lobes are sharp, not
blunt, 1-2 inches long. Flowers are white or pink, to 1 inch
long. Blooms June to September. Native Americans used cold leaf
tea as a wash on spider bites; internally, to reduce profuse
menstrual flow. In European folk use, flower, leaf, and root
teas considered laxative. Flower tea used for fevers, wounds.
The root is the most active part; strongly purgative. Also,
there is an herb called Wild Jalap (C. jal