Botanical art
Prior names
Convolvulus erubescens, partly
Convolvulus sp. B, partly
Common names
Eyre's Bindweed
Silver Bindweed
Native Bindweed
Etymology
Convolvulus the Latin name of some bindweed, from 'convolvere' meaning to roll together or entwine. Eyreanus named after Edward John Eyre (1815-1901), an English land explorer of the Australian continent, colonial administrator, and a controversial Governor of Jamaica.
Distribution and status
Found in the north-east part of South Australia, growing on inland sand dunes and associated habitats, often growing in Acacia shrublands. Also found in Queensland and New South Wales. Native. Common in South Australia. Rare in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Murray
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Perennial herb with trailing and twining stems. Leaves very variable in shape, upper leaves ovate to oblong, to 35 mm long and 20 mm, acute to rounded, mucronulate, base hastate or sagittate, margin serrate to shallowly lobed, basal lobes often more prominent, terminal lobe entire to shallowly-lobed, dense hairs on both sides. Flower-spike cymose with 1�2 funnel-shaped, off-white to pink flowers. Flowering between August and December. Fruits are light brown globular capsule to 5.5 mm diameter. Seeds are dark brown secteroid seed to 6 mm long and 4mm wide, surface rugose. Seed embryo type is folded.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between October and February. Collect capsules that are maturing, turning brown and contain hard seeds inside. Capsules can be opened or unopened and some seed can be collected from the ground under the plant. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for one to two weeks. Then rub the capsules gently by hand or with a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. From one collection, the seed viability was high, at 100%. This species has physical dormancy that needs to be overcome for the seed to germinate (e.g. nicking the seed coat).
Location | No. of seeds (weight grams) | Number of plants | Date collected | Collection number Collection location | Date stored | % Viability | Storage temperature |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BGA MSB | 1,700 (11.9 g) 1,700 (11.9 g) | 150+ | 22-Oct-2004 | MOL4541 Gairdner-Torrens | 28-Mar-2006 | 100% | -18°C |
BGA | 1,300 (9.9122 g) | 50+ | 25-Nov-2005 | DJD249 Eastern | 28-Jul-2006 | 100% | -18°C |