Calystegia soldanella

Calystegia soldanella (syn. Convolvulus soldanella) is a species of bindweed known by various common names such as sea bells, sea bindweed, seashore false bindweed, shore bindweed, shore convolvulus and beach morning glory.

Description

It is a creeping or twining plant. The stems can be 1.5-2.5 m long and lie along the ground. The stems are often buried in sand and tufts of leaves are above the ground. The leaves are bright green and 2 cm long by 3 cm wide. They are heart or kidney shaped. The flowers are pale pink and produced in the axils of leaves. They are "morning glory" type flowers, like sweet potato. They are funnel shaped. The flowers open one after another along the stem. The flowers are 3-5 cm long and 1.5 cm across. Flowers last only one day. The fruit are round and 1.5 cm long. The seeds are dark brown and smooth.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Leaves Shoots Edible Uses: Young shoots - cooked as a vegetable or pickled and used as a samphire substitute. Caution is advised since the plant might have a purgative effect.

Traditional Uses

The tender stalks are pickled. The young shoots are pickled and eaten as a substitute for samphire.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

Antiscorbutic Diuretic Febrifuge Irritant Purgative Vermifuge Antiscorbutic, diuretic, febrifuge, irritant, purgative and vermifuge.

Known Hazards

The plant may have purgative effects and possesses irritant qualities.

Distribution

It grows in temperate locations. It grows on coastal sand dunes. It grows in temperate places but can also grow in tropical places. It needs well drained soil. It can grow in dry soil and in full sunlight. It cannot stand frost. Tasmania Herbarium.

Where It Grows

Africa, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Britain, Chile, China, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mediterranean, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, North America, Pacific, Portugal, Russia, South America, Spain, Taiwan, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, USA,

Cultivation

Plants can be grown from seed or cuttings.

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame in a free draining compost and only just cover. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring whilst dormant.

Other Uses

String The stems are very flexible and are used as a string for tying. Fairly strong but not long-lasting. Special Uses

Notes

It is useful for binding sand dunes. There are 25 Calystegia species.

Synonyms

References (17)

• Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 75
• Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 183
• Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 205
• Chen, B. & Qiu, Z., Consumer's Attitudes towards Edible Wild Plants, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. p 22 www.hindawi.com/journals/ijfr/aip/872413.pdf (As Calystegia soldanella (L.) Roem. & Schultz. )
• Crowe, A., 1997, A Field Guide to the Native Edible Plants of New Zealand. Penguin. p 69

More from Convolvulaceae

Convolvulus japonicus

Rose glorybind, Japanese bindweed

Convolvulus lineatus

Convolvulus pilosellifolius

Morning glory, Bindweed

Convolvulus prostratus

Convolvulus sagittatus

Wild morning glory

Convolvulus scammonia