Field Bindweed Information

(Convolvulus arvensis)

Persistent, perennial vine of the morning glory family
Ranked among the top ten world's worst weeds

Distinguished from other bindweeds and morning glories by:
            *Leaf shape, rounded arrowhead
            *Flower size, small (1")
            *Two small bracts located 1-2" below the flower

Habitat:
            *Orchards and vineyards
            *Roadsides and ditchbanks
            *Streambanks and lakeshores
            *Croplands and wastelands

Flowers:
            *June through September
            *Blooms last only one day

Seeds:
            *Hard, impermeable coats
            *Viable 30 days after pollination
            *Majority of seeds fall near the plant, however seeds can be dispersed over longer distances
             by water and birds

Roots:
            *Rhizomes and attached lateral roots can survive independently of the primary root, most in 
             the top 12" of soil, plants can regenerate from root sections as deep as 5 ft. 
            *Buds may arise at any point along a lateral root
            *Vertical roots comprise 1/3 of total root system extend 2-30 ft. deep

Shoots:
            *Shoot growth: 1st year, 18-51"
            *Majority of shoots do not overwinter, however those that do can grow 70-114: during their 
             second year.

Growth and reproduction:
            *Lateral root growth: 15-22 ft. per year
            *Reproduction primarily from rhizomes

Management:
            *Deplete carbohydrate reserves by continuous cultivation etc.
            *Prevent vegetative spread
            *Herbicides: dicamba, glyphosate, picloram, 2,4-D ester. 
             (Apply 2, 4-D when soil is wet, dicamba when soil is dry)
            *Apply herbicides at or during first bloom when carb. reserves are lowest
            *Applications made to mature leaves are more effective, cuticular wax is worn from abrasion 
             and more easily penetrated than seedling cuticle. 

Threats:
            *Aggressively competes for light, nutrients and water
            *Can reduce crop yields by 50-60%
            *Mildly allelopathic
            *Toxic to some livestock