Date: XXXXXXXX 2010. Location: XXXXXXXXX(map)
| Classification Hierarchy | |
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Subkingdom | Tracheophyta |
| Superdivision | Spermatophyta |
| Division | Magnoliophyta |
| Class | Magnoliopsida |
| Subclass | Asteridae |
| Order | Solanales |
| Family | Convolvulaceae |
| Genus | Calystegia |
| Species | Calystegia spithamaea |
Date: XXXXXXXX 2010. Location: XXXXXXXXX(map)
USDA Plant Profile Flora of N. America
Scientific Name: Calystegia spithamaea. Calystegia is thought to be a Greek construction meaning a covered cup, possibly a reference to the two bracts that cover the calyx. Spithamaea means "a span high". The span of a man's hand is approximately 9 inches which is about the average height claimed for the plant (3-20 in.).
Common Name: low false bindweed. Bindweed is something of a misnomer. Unlike most bindweeds there is little or no twining, the short stems tend to stand upright until the flowers weight them down.
Origin: Native
Notes: Iowa rates Calystegia spithamaea as a "Special concern plant species". Most reports of its presence come from N.E. Iowa. It is usually found in dry rocky or sandy soils.
Additional references: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
Flowers: June; white funnelform corolla 2-3 in. long, two bracts cover the 5 sepal; pistals produce two lobed stigma and two celled carpels that each produce one seeds; individual plants produce 5 or fewer flowers they only bloom one at a time. blooming may occur only in the morning and only last one day.
Leaves: lower leaves are petiolate, some upper leaves may be sessile; leaf bases are often cordate, margins smooth.
Glossaries of botanical terms: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
