Whites for ID, UK

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Johnny81

If you took the bindweed and looked at the back of it you will see smaller green sepals (they are under the petals or bind to them) (all sepals together = calyx) (all petals together= corolla). If these sepals (actually called the epicalyx) overlap it's large bindweed and if there is a gap it is hedge bindweed. A bad explanation and I'm sure Dorts will put it more simply for you Purchasing a good flower guide (try Collins complete guide to British wild flowers, how I started and it is wonderful for beginners, with real photos) will show these in a simple picture format.

John, I think you put it extremely well.

Bindweeds: (Not including Field Bindweed which is a Covolvulus.)
If flower stalks are hairless, plant is either Hedge B. or Large B.
If stalks are downy plant is either Hedge ssp.roseata, or Hairy B.

Hedge B. is usually hairless, flowers white, (only very occasionally pink with white stripes). Five sepals half-covered by the two large bracts immediately beneath them.
Commoner in rural areas.

Large B. Flowers white, (only occasionally with faint pink stripes). Bracts more inflated completely enfolding the sepals. Commoner in towns and suburbs.

Hairy B. has downy upper stems, flowers always pink with white stripes, has large bracts like Large B. By far the less common of the three.

Hybrids are not uncommon.
Dorts.