Odd looking Bindweed

[Tiggrx]

I found this odd plant of Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis). It nearly looks as though it is trying to become a 5 petaled flower. The other plants in the colony seemed normal. Is this a common occurence?

[colinaj]

Very odd I have only seen this before when petals are damaged by wind and rain splitting them to look like extra petals.

Are you a BSBI member? might be worth sending them a photo for thier publication

[colinaj]

Actually, is it a Bindweed?

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by colinaj

Actually, is it a Bindweed?

Definitely Field Bindweed, though I agree that from the photo it doesn't look much like it, I nearly want to grow it in the garden...

[JennyS]

Thats a garden-worthy bindweed flower!
Never seen one with the deep crimson at the petal-bases, or five petals......were the leaves normal colour, shape etc?

[Tiggrx]

Originally Posted by JennyS

Thats a garden-worthy bindweed flower!
Never seen one with the deep crimson at the petal-bases, or five petals......were the leaves normal colour, shape etc?

Yep the leaves were normal bindweed leaves, it was just the flowers that were unusual. The others in the colony were normal though quite well-coloured.

[rscott74]

I posted this pic yesterday for ID - it's marsh marigold. I made the point that the flower in the bottom left, the one close above plus the one to the right appear to have 6 petals. Can you see what I see and is it abnormal?

[AlanS]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I found this odd plant of Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis). It nearly looks as though it is trying to become a 5 petaled flower. The other plants in the colony seemed normal. Is this a common occurence?

Beautiful photograph! This probably qualifies as var. stonestreetii, named, in 1914, after a Rev. W. Stonestreet who found it near Henley. (Well, you never know, this might come up in a pub quiz!)

The flower can be more deeply lobed, but it seems as though the name is based on a collection with lobing much as shown in your photograph, but with a more plain white corolla. I have occasionally seen something similar, though not in combination with the attractive colour variation.

C. arvensis is often an attractive plant - I sometimes deliberately stop to look at it if I am passing its one local site. I understand feelings about it are somewhat different down south!

Alan

[Gill Catton]

I love field bindweed, its beautiful and smells like black cherry yoghurt - if you've never tried it, stick your nose in a flower and give it a good sniff yum .... A much underrated flower.

[agrumpycow]

Originally Posted by Gill Catton

I love field bindweed, its beautiful and smells like black cherry yoghurt - if you've never tried it, stick your nose in a flower and give it a good sniff yum .... A much underrated flower.

But check inside before you sniff incase theres a little creature in there - it did happen to me once