Title: Convolvulus arvensis L.

Scientific Name:

Convolvulus arvensis L.

Common Names:

bindweed, common bindweed, field bindweed



Source & more images (via ALA)

Habitat: Humid and subhumid temperate regions, occurring in exposed situations up to subalpine levels, often on fertile, deep alkaline soils (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). It is a weed of arable land, roadsides, railway lines and neglected areas, in both urban and rural situations (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). It grows well in areas of moderate rainfall or irrigation but does not survive on waterlogged soils (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992). Bindweed flourishes in a wide range of environments, making it a successful weed (Parsons and Cuthbertson 1992).

Distribution:



Original source via CABI


Weed Assessment

ESTABLISHMENT


1. Germination requirements? Seeds germinate throughout the year if moisture is adequate. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

2. Establishment requirements? Can establish under moderate canopy, occurs in forests (e.g. coniferous overstorey). Uses its viney stems to move into sunlight (FEIS).

3. How much disturbance is required? Occurs in minor disturbed natural ecosystems, e.g. riparian vegetation, shrubland, grassland (Lyons, 1998)

GROWTH / COMPETITIVE


4. Life form? A prostrate trailing and twining perennial herb. Creeper. Also geophytic. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

5. Allelopathic properties? Strongly Allelopathic to such plants as Prince-of-Wales feather, Amaranthus Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992). sp. (

6. Tolerates herb pressure? Has little fodder value out of its native range (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).

7. Normal growth rate? Strong competitor with cereal crops, orchards, and vineyards - may even kill such vegetation. One of the 10 worst weeds in the world. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992; - FEIS).

8. Stress tolerance to frost, drought, w/logg, sal. etc? Tolerance to moisture stress, water logging, however, stated as being ‘quickly killed by water logging' (Agriculture Protection Board, 1993). Occurs in riparian areas, wet meadow margins, etc.), frost (although foliage may die, rhizomes resprout), fire. (- FEIS; Lyon, 1998; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

REPRODUCTION


9. Reproductive system? Reproducing by seed and from roots (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

10. Number of propagules produced? Up to 500 seeds are produced per plant (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992; Lyons, 1998)

11. Propagule longevity? 80% seeds remain dormant in soil for at least 20 years. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992) .

12. Reproductive period? Forms heavy infestations (monocultures). See pics, P & C (1992) p. 398. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

13. Time to reproductive maturity? Plants may not flower in the first year. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992)

DISPERSAL


14. Number of mechanisms? Contaminated fodder, machinery, grain, animals including birds, animal manure, cultivation equipment (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).

15. How far do they disperse? Migratory birds have been implicated in long distance dispersal. "Seeds fall near the parent plant but can be transported by water or birds. Seeds remain viable in the stomachs of migrating Kildeer for up to 144 hours, and can pass through animals with little or no damage. Quail may retain the seed for 24 hours, ducks 5, and geese 19, lesser yellowlegs 6 hours. (Lyons 1998; Parsons and Cuthbertson, 1992).


Impact Assessment

RECREATION


1. Restrict human access? "A prostrate trailing and twining perennial herb. Would present minimal impact on human access (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

2. Reduce tourism? A strong competitor it can dominate in open areas. However, its prostrate form would not seriously affect recreation (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

3. Injurious to people? No toxic principles or harmful physical properties (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

4. Damage to cultural sites? The plant has a vigorous root system that, "...also allows shoots to push through asphalt paths." This vigour could also have some impact on the structure of cultural sites or features (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

ABIOTIC


5. Impact flow? Terrestrial species. Does not survive in waterlogged situations. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

6. Impact water quality? Terrestrial species. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

7. Increase soil erosion? Perennial with tap root to three metres deep and numerous horizontal roots between 0.6 to 2 metres deep. Would not increase soil erosion. (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

8. Reduce biomass? Occurring predominantly in agricultural situations where it, "...eliminates more valuable pasture species and smothers cereal crops." Invader directly replaces biomass (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

9. Change fire regime? Aerial growth dies off in autumn. In cropping situation, dry matter left with remnant material from harvest. Likely to have little effect on changing fire regime (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

COMMUNITY HABITAT


10(a) Impact on composition of high value EVC? EVC=Plains grassy woodland (E); CMA=Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg=Glenelg Plain; VH CLIMATE potential. The plant has a dominant growth habit in pasture and cultivated areas. While not a significant weed of natural ecosystems, where it does occur, it is likely to dominate the ground flora in low quality, open grassland areas. It does not grow well under the shade of other plants. Major effect on ground-flora (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001; Holm et al., 1977).

10(b) Impact on medium value EVC? EVC=Herb-rich heathy woodland (D); CMA=Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg=Glenelg Plain; VH CLIMATE potential. The plant has a dominant growth habit in pasture and cultivated areas. It does not grow well under the shade of other plants. Minor effect on ground flora/forbs in this EVC (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001; Holm et al., 1977).

10(c) Impact on low value EVC? EVC=Heathy woodland (LC); CMA=Glenelg Hopkins; Bioreg=Glenelg Plain; VH CLIMATE potential. The plant has a dominant growth habit in pasture and cultivated areas. It does not grow well under the shade of other plants. Minor effect on ground flora/forbs in this EVC (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001; Holm et al., 1977).

11. Impact on structure? "The plant has a dominant growth habit in pasture and cultivated areas. While not a significant weed of natural ecosystems, where it does occur, it is likely to dominate the ground flora in low quality, open grassland areas. It does not grow well under the shade of other plants. Likely to affect 20-60% of the floral strata (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001; Holm et al., 1977).

12. Effect on threatened flora?

FAUNA


13. Effect on threatened fauna?

14. Effect on non-threatened fauna? "It occurs on roadsides, railway lines, and neglected areas in both urban and rural areas." Its effect on the habitat of native fauna would be minimal (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

15. Benefits fauna? The plant is eaten by stock and may provide some food source to native herbivores. However, it is regarded as having little fodder value (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

16. Injurious to fauna? "It may be toxic or emetic and is suspected of causing photosensitisation in susceptible animals and of poisoning pigs after eating the roots." (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

PEST ANIMAL


17. Food source to pests? Birds are a known vector for seed, however, bird species are not recorded. Assume potential for pest species to forage (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

18. Provides harbor? The aerial parts of the plant die back in autumn leaving little cover for harbor. May provide limited harbor for mice or other small rodents during growth and flowering stages (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001)

AGRICULTURE


19. Impact yield? "It is a strong competitor with cereal crops in North America where crop reductions of 30% to 40% are not uncommon. In some years Kansas wheat and Canadian grain sorghum are reduced by 80%." (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

20. Impact quality? "Seeds contaminate grain for sowing, particularly wheat." Plants can produce up to 500 seeds. Likely to have at least a minor impact on quality (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

21. Affect land values? The plant seriously affects yield and it requires a concerted control program for several years to eradicate it. This would have a negative influence on price, depending upon type of agricultural activity (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

22. Change land use? "In California...some areas had been abandoned because of the weed."(Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

23. Increase harvest costs? "The long stems twine through the maturing crop, which makes harvesting difficult or impossible." Significant potential for increase harvest costs (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).

24. Disease host/vector? "It is an alternative host for a number of viruses... and hosts several arthropods and nematodes of agricultural importance." (Parsons and Cuthbertson, 2001).




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Assessment ratings originally made by the Victorian Department of Primary Industries.
The entry of this assessment was made possible through the generous support of The Weed's Network.






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Categories: :wra:c, :wra:inv1, :wra:invh, :wra:inv2, :wra:invmh, :wra:inv3, :wra:inv4, :wra:invml, :wra:inv5, :wra:inv6, :wra:inv7, :wra:inv8, :wra:inv9, :wra:inv10, :wra:inv11, :wra:inv12, :wra:inv13, :wra:inv14, :wra:inv15, :wra:imp1, :wra:impl, :wra:imp2, :wra:imp3, :wra:imp4, :wra:impmh, :wra:imp5, :wra:imp6, :wra:imp7, :wra:imp8, :wra:impml, :wra:imp9, :wra:imp10a, :wra:imp10b, :wra:imp10c, :wra:imp11, :wra:imp12, :wra:impm, :wra:imp13, :wra:imp14, :wra:imp15, :wra:imp16, :wra:imp17, :wra:imp18, :wra:imp19, :wra:imph, :wra:imp20, :wra:imp21, :wra:imp22, :wra:imp23, :wra:imp24
Date: 30 July 2009; 11:50:06 AM AEST

Author Name: David Low
Author ID: adminDavid