- Scientific name: Calystegia spithamaea
- Species of Greatest Conservation Need (MA State Wildlife Action Plan)
- Endangered (MA Endangered Species Act)
Description
Upright bindweed (Calystegia spithamaea) is a low-growing perennial herb in the morning glory family (Convolvulaceae), known in Massachusetts from dry, open habitats. Unlike several species in this family, upright bindweed is erect, rather than twining. This species produces a showy, white or pinkish flower in late spring or early summer. Like other morning glories, upright bindweed has funnel-shaped flowers with five fused petals. The corolla is 3.5-7 cm (1.4-2.8 in) long, and leafy bracts more or less conceal the calyx. The stems are erect, at least up to and including the flowering portion, standing up to 50 cm (20 in) high. Upright bindweed leaves are oblong, 3-8 cm (1.2-3.1 in), and hairy, with the petiole usually much shorter than the blade.
Calystegia is one of three morning glory genera occurring in Massachusetts. The several introduced Ipomoea species have a single stigma instead of two as in upright bindweed, and those that have white flowers all have heart-shaped leaves. The common, introduced field bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), which forms extensive, tangled mats, has a pair of small bracts well below the flower, not concealing the calyx. Other Calystegia species known from Massachusetts, like upright bindweed, have leafy bracts that conceal the calyx, but all have trailing or twining stems and the leaves immediately below the flowers have petioles more than half as long as the midveins.
Population status
Upright bindweed is listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act as Endangered. All listed species are protected from killing, collecting, possessing, or sale, and from activities that would destroy habitat and thus directly or indirectly cause mortality or disrupt critical behaviors. It is currently known from Berkshire, Franklin, Middlesex, and Worcester Counties. Upright bindweed is historically known from Hampshire and Hampden Counties.
Distribution and abundance
Upright bindweed occurs in eastern North America from Quebec to Minnesota, south to Georgia and Missouri.
Distribution in Massachusetts
1999-2024
Based on records in the Natural Heritage Database
Habitat
Throughout its range, upright bindweed grows in dry, open, sandy to rocky habitats. Current and historic sites in Massachusetts have included a sandy hillside; sandy fields; a steep, loose talus slope; a gravel pit; a power line corridor; a railroad embankment; an opening on the edge of a path; and a patchwork of field, thicket, and young forest. Due to this variety of known habitats, associated species vary widely. Where there is a canopy, associates include cottonwoods (Populus spp.), black cherry (Prunus serotina), white pine (Pinus strobus), hickories (Carya spp.), and maples (Acer spp.). Lower growing associates include woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus), rough-stemmed goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis), dwarf cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis), and various cultivated grasses.
Healthy habitats are vital for supporting native wildlife and plants. Explore habitats and learn about conservation and restoration in Massachusetts.
Threats
Because it requires open habitats, upright bindweed may be threatened by shading or competition from aggressive native or exotic plants, in the absence of disturbance.
Conservation
Sites should be monitored for threats from over-shading and invasive plants; selective cutting of trees or removal of competing exotic or aggressive native plants may be appropriate. Populations in anthropogenic openings like power line corridors may be threatened by the management activities (e.g., herbicide use), and by recreational vehicles. Land managers should be familiar with the locations of the plants so that these threats can be minimized. All active management of rare plant populations (including invasive species removal) is subject to review under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act and should be planned in close consultation with the MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program.
References
Corrigan, E. 2004. Calystegia spithamaea ssp. spithamaea (L.) Pursh (Low bindweed) Conservation and Research plan for New England. New England Wild Flower Society, Framingham, MA, USA.
Haines, A. 2011. Flora Novae Angliae. Yale University Press, New Haven, CT.
Sorrie, B.A. 1987. Notes on the rare flora of Massachusetts. Rhodora 89:113–196.
Contact
| Date published: | April 8, 2025 |
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