Field Bindweed ( arvensis) aka Wild/Perennial Morning Glory Provincial Designation: Noxious Overview: Identification: Field bindweed is a long-lived perennial Stems: Stems are twisted, twining, and that re-sprouts each year from its very grow to 3 m or more in length. They can be extensive root system. Young plants develop climbing or prostrate and form dense mats. a deep taproot, and then lateral roots which Leaves: Leaves are arrowhead shaped, Above: photo courtesy Ronald Calhoun (www.msuturfweeds.net). can extend 60m or more. Most of the root Below: photo courtesy Kelly Cooley. borne on long petioles, and alternate. The mass occupies the top 30 to 40 cm of the Bottom left: photo courtesy South Dakota State University Weed Control website twisted stems make (plantsci.sdstate.edu). soil. It reproduces both by and vegeta- leaves appear spiral. tively – new stems arise from buds on lateral Leaves may be smooth roots. Typically climb and out-shade or finely hairy, and the other plants. It can form dense mats in agri- shape and size can be cultural situations, smothering the crop and variable. clogging harvesting machinery. Flowers: Flowers are Two very similar plants in the same family funnel shaped, about 2.5 can be misidentified as field bindweed. The wide, can be white or ornamental morning glory ( spp.) pink, and are borne singly has variety of flower colors, a thicker stem or in pairs on long stalks and heart-shaped leaves. Hedge bindweed in originating in the leaf ( sepium), an invasive plant, is an axils. Small bracts oc- aggressive, creeping rooted perennial with cur 1 to 2 cm below the larger foliage, no hairs on the leaves, and no flower. bracts below the flower. of field bindweed can cause colic in horses. Seed: Seed capsules are oval, 5-7 mm long Invasive plants should never be considered as Habitat: and contain a small number of 3 to 5 mm, forage. brownish grey . Seeds develop quickly Field bindweed has a broad range of habitat after pollination and buried seed can remain Cultivation: Only effective when repeated tolerances; dry to moist (not wet) soils, is viable for tens of years. regularly, multiple times throughout the growing drought tolerant, and does well in clay type season for a few successive years. Equipment soils. It is not shade tolerant so it must climb Prevention: must be cleaned of all plant fragments and soil. to receive sunlight. Mulches or black plastic can be effective but Field bindweed requires disturbance to estab- will also take a few years’ effort. lish therefore it is a serious weed of crops, and seed or root fragments can be transported in Mechanical: Mowing is not effective. Re- soil. In non-crop situations, maintain a healthy, peated hand-pulling may control small infesta- competitive plant cover. The long seed viability tions of young plants. It’s very difficult to get all makes established infestations very difficult to of the roots on mature plants. eradicate. Chemical:1 Glyphosate, picloram and di- camba have proven effective. Consult your local Control: Agricultural Fieldman or Certified Pesticide Dispenser for more information. Grazing: Field bindweed is not palatable, but may be consumed in severely overgrazed pas- Biological: Two agents have been re- tures. Hay contaminated with large amounts searched in the US.

1 Always follow the product labels. The use of pesticides in any manner not published on the label or registered under the Minor Use of Pesticides regulation constitutes an offence under both the Federal Pest Control Products Act and Alberta’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act.

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