What Plant Is Bindweed? An Introduction to Its Morphology and Value

Bindweed is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Convolvulus of the family Convolvulaceae. In various places it is also called guzi flower or lili tianjian, and it often grows in fields, along roadsides, by ditches and near fences. Its stems are slender and soft, able to twine or creep along the ground, and its leaves are mostly arrow-shaped. Each summer it produces funnel-shaped flowers, mainly white or pale pink, which look like little trumpets from a distance.

Many people confuse bindweed with morning glory. Although the two belong to the same family and their flowers are similar in shape, they are not the same. Bindweed is mostly wild, its corolla is relatively small, and its leaves are arrow-shaped; morning glory is often cultivated for ornament, its flowers are larger, and its leaves are usually heart-shaped or three-lobed. In addition, note that although bindweed and inula (Convolvulus vs. Inula) differ by only one character, they are completely different plants, the latter belonging to the Asteraceae.

Bindweed has fairly strong adaptability to its environment, tolerates poor soil, and reproduces quickly, often growing in patches under natural conditions. It can be used to green courtyard fences and hedges or cover slopes, and its vines paired with trumpet-shaped flowers have a certain wild charm; however, if too much of it appears in farmland or gardens, it is easily regarded as a weed and needs to be cleared and controlled in time.

Traditional herbal texts record that the flowers and seeds of bindweed can be used as medicine, and there are also some folk habits of use. It should be noted that medicinal use should be carried out under professional guidance, and it is not recommended to pick and take it on your own, so as to avoid misuse causing physical discomfort.