Species
Calystegia soldanella
Etymology
Calystegia: Name is derived from the Greek words kalyx 'cup', and stege 'a covering', meaning 'a covered cup', the calyx of some bindweeds being enclosed in two bracts.
soldanella: From Latin 'soldo' a type of coin, referring to the shape of the leaves
Common Name(s)
Shore bindweed, shore convolvulus, rauparaha
Threat Status
Non Threatened
Status 2004
Non Threatened
Authority
Calystegia soldanella (L.) R.Br.
Family
Convolvulaceae
Flora Category
Vascular - Native
Synonyms
Convolvulus soldanella L.
Distribution
Indigenous. Kermadec, Three Kings, North, South, Stewart and Chatham Islands. Indigenous to both Northern and Southern Hemisphere temperate regions.
Habitat
Coastal or inland along lake shorelines. Usually in sand or shell banks but also grows in fine gravel or pumice, talus slopes and on occasion in coastal turf or on cliff faces.
Features
Perennial herb with stout, white, deeply descending, fleshy roots and numerous prostrate branching stems forming dense patches. Stems glabrous. Petioles 80 mm or less, slender. Leaves (10-)50(-80) x (10-)50(-75) mm, reniform, fleshy, glossy, entire; sinus shallow and rounded; apex emarginate, obtuse or acute. Flowers solitary; peduncles ribbed, 100 mm long. Bracts ovate. cordate, obtuse 12-18 mm long. Sepals nearly = bracts, obtuse. Corolla 20-40 x 25-50 mm, campanulate, pink with white mid-petaline bands. Capsule 15-20 mm long, broad-ovoid, apiculate. Seeds dark brown, smooth.
Similar Taxa
None - the prostrate habit and reniform leaves clearly distinguish this species from all other indigenous and introduced Calystegia species. However, C. soldanella forms hybrids with C. tuguriorum (G.Forst.) Hook.f., and these can be recognised by their weakly lianoid habit, puberulent, subsucculent stems and leaves, reniform to deltoid leaves, and pale pink subcampanulate flowers. C. soldanella is also suspected to hybridise with C. sepium subsp. roseata Brummitt, and C. marginata R.Br.
Flowering
(August-) October - March
Main Flower Colour
White
Other Flower Colour
Red / Pink
Fruiting
Present throughout the year
Propagation Technique
Easy from seed or rooted pieces. Once established very hard to eradicate! An attractive ground cover for a difficult, dry, sunny or exposed spot. For a bit of variety try growing it in bach lawns - its does not require mowing and is much more interesting than kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum Chiov.)
Threats
Not Threatened
Chromosome No.
2n = 22
Endemic Taxon
No
Endemic Genus
No
Endemic Family
No
Where To Buy
Can be purchased from Oratia Native Plant Nurseries (info@oratianatives.co.nz).
Cultural Use/Importance
The Maori gathered the thick, white, fleshy roots and pounded these to form a pulp, this was then used as a relish to flavour some meats.
This page last updated on 3 May 2011