FAMILY CONVOLVULACEAE

Morning glory and Sweet potato

Introduction to the Family Convolvulceae - Morning glory and Sweet potato

Convolvulaceae, known commonly as the bindweed or morning glory family, is

a family of 12 tribes, 60 genera and more than 1,650 species of
mostly herbaceousvines, but also trees, shrubs and herbs.
Convolvulaceae can be recognized by their funnel-shaped, radially
symmetrical corolla; the floral formula for the family has five sepals, five fused petals,
five epipetalous stamens (stamens fused to the petals), and a two-
part syncarpous and superior gynoecium. The stems of these plants are usually
winding, hence their Latin name (from convolvere, "to wind").
Tribes of the Family Convolvulaceae
Recent molecular analysis has largely reflected this except in some details,
and 12 tribes are here recognised:
1- Tribe Aniseieae
Tribe Aniseieae has 4 genera with 7 species, in tropical America.
2- Tribe Cardiochlamyeae
Tribe Cardiochlamyeae has 6 genera and 21 species, in Madagascar, tropical
Asia and Central Australia.
3- Tribe Convolvuleae
Tribe Convolvuleae has 4 genera and 375 species, in temperate and tropical
regions.
4- Tribe Cresseae
Tribe Cresseae has 8 genera with 215 species, widespread.
5- Tribe Cuscuteae
Tribe Cuscuteae has 1 genus with over 200 species, widespread.
6- Tribe Dichondreae
Tribe Dichondreae has 4 genera of which one is widespread, one is from Yemen
to S. Africa, one is confined to Ethiopia, and one in Mexico, with 20 species.
7- Tribe Erycibeae
Tribe Erycibeae has 1 genus and about 75 species, in tropical Asia to
Queensland.
8- Tribe Humbertieae
The tribe Humbertieae has 1 genus. It is monotypic, from Madagascar.
9- Tribe Ipomoeeae
Tribe Ipomoeeae has 10 genera and about 755 species, in pantropical areas.
10- Tribe Maripeae
Tribe Maripeae has 3 (or 4) genera and 36 (or 37) species, in tropical
America.
11- Tribe Merremieae
 Tribe Merremieae has 8 genera with 120 or more species, in pantropical
areas.
12- Tribe Poraneae
Tribe Poraneae has 4 (or 7) genera and 32 (or 53) species, in pantropical
areas.
Source: http://convolvulaceae.myspecies.info/node/9#overlay-context.
2- Taxonomy of the Family Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae has about 12 tribes, 60 genera and more than 1,650 species of
mostly herbaceousvines, but also trees, shrubs and herbs.
Traditional subdivision of the family has been based largely on characters of the
ovary, number of styles, shape of stigmas, pollen characters and dehiscence of the
fruit, as well as the obvious differences in habit and leaf form.
The family is allied to other families which have alternate leaves and actinomorphic
sympetalous flowers, and is placed in the Solanales of APG II.
The APG II system (2003) divised the Family Convolvulaceae into 2
subfamilies:
1- Convolvuloideae.
2- Humbertioideae
Recent molecular analysis has largely reflected this except in some details,
and 12 tribes are here recognised:
2.1- Tribe Aniseieae
Tribe Aniseieae has 4 genera with 7 species, intropical America. Herbaceous
or slightly woody climbers up to 5 m. The leaves are elliptic to heart-shaped, cuneate
to cordate at the base. The inflorescence is cymose and often capitate, or flowers are
solitary, or in Tetralocularia a one-sided raceme. The sepals are often unequal and
accrescent. The style is single with an elongate or globose stigma.
Genera:
1- Genus Aniseia (3 species).
2- Genus Iseia (1 species).
3- Genus Odonellia (2 species).
4- Genus Tetralocularia (1 species).
The last of these is basal to the other genera in molecular position and differs
markedly in its inflorescence and 4-lobed fruit, and may be better referred to a
different tribe.
2- Tribe Cardiochlamyeae
Tribe Cardiochlamyeae has 6 genera and 21 species, in Madagascar,
tropical Asia and Central Australia. Herbaceous to woody climbers to 25 m or more.
The leaves are cordate at the base, except in Duperreya where they are linear, and
venation tends to be palmate. The bracts are foliaceous, and the sepals are accrescent.
There is a single style, and the stigmas are capitate to weakly lobed. The fruit is an
indehiscent 1-seeded utricle.
Genera:
1-Genus Cardiochlamys (2 species)
2-Genus Cordisepalum (2 species)
3-Genus Dinetus (8 species)
 4-Genus Duperreya (2 species)
5-Genus Poranopsis (3 species)
6-Genus Tridynamia (4 species).
2.3- Tribe Convolvuleae
Tribe Convolvuleae has 4 genera and 375 species, temperate and tropical
regions. Annual or perennial herbs to shrubs or herbaceous or woody climbers. The
leaves are cordate at the base or not. The inflorescence is cymose, sometimes capitate
or paniculate or reduced to solitary axillary flowers. Sepals are equal or not. There is a
single style, bearing a stigma with 2-4 linear, tongue-shaped or clavate lobes. The fruit
is a capsule with 4-8 valves or breaking up irregularly.
Genera:
1- Genus Calystegia (26 species).
2- Genus Convolvulus (221 species).
3- Genus Jacquemontia (120 species).
4- Genus Polymeria (8 species).
Jacquemontia is placed somewhat removed from the other genera in the
molecular analysis, but is so close toConvolvulus morphologically that it is difficult to
define clearly.
2.4- Tribe Cresseae
Tribe Cresseae has 8 genera with 215 species, widespread. Erect or prostrate
herbs to shrubs or climbers. The leaves are linear to elliptic or obovate, not cordate at
the base. Flowers are 4-merous in Hildebrandtia and Cladostigma. The sepals are not
or rarely accrescent. There are two styles free or partly fused below, with stigmas
digitately lobed, filiform or capitate. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule with 1-4 seeds.
Genera:
1- Genus Bonamia (56 species).
2- Genus Cladostigma (3 species).
3- Genus Cressa (4 species).
4- Genus Evolvulus (100 species).
5- Genus Hildebrandtia (11species).
6- Genus Seddera (31 species).
7- Genus Stylisma (6 species).
8- Genus Wilsonia (4 species).
2.5- Tribe Cuscuteae
Tribe Cuscuteae has 1 genus with over 200 species, widespread. Twining
parasites lacking chlorophyll and with leaves reduced to scales or absent, attaching
themselves to their hosts by haustoria.
Genus:
1-Genus Cuscuta (over 200 species).
2.6- Tribe Dichondreae
Tribe Dichondreae has 4 genera of which one is widespread, one is from Yemen
to S. Africa, one is confined to Ethiopia, and one in Mexico, with 20 species. More or
less prostrate creeping herbs with small flowers (2-13 mm). The leaves are reniform to
linear. The ovary is either 2 – 4 -lobed to the base with 2 gynobasic styles and
developing into a 2–4-lobed fruit with a single seed in each lobe, or is entire with 2
terminal styles developing into a 1-seeded utricle or a 2-locular, 4-seeded capsule.
 Genera:
1- Genus Dichondra (15 species).
2- Genus Falkia (3 species).
3- Genus Nephrophyllum (1 species).
4- Genus Petrogenia(1 species).
2.7- Tribe Erycibeae
Tribe Erycibeae has 1 genus and about 75 species, in tropical Asia to
Queensland. Woody climbers or perhaps sometimes small erect trees, often with
stellate hairs. The leaves are often leathery and large (to 40 cm), usually more or less
elliptic to obovate, not cordate at the base. Each of the five segments of the corolla
bears two large lobes apically. A style is absent, and the sessile stigma is conical to
concave. The fruit is a slightly fleshy indehiscent 1-seeded berry.
Genus:
1- Genus Erycibe (about 75 species).
2.8- Tribe Humbertieae
The tribe Humbertieae is monotypic, from Madagascar. A tree grows to 35 m,
with leathery, oblanceolate-cuneate leaves. The inflorescence is a terminal thyrse. The
flowers are weakly zygomorphic, the stamen filaments arching upwards to lie under
the upper side of the corolla, which is slightly longer than the lower side, while the
upper part of the filaments is long-exserted and deflexed. The ovary has c. 20 ovules
per locule but only 1-2(-4) seeds per capsule.
Genus:
1- Genus Humbertia (1 species).
2.9- Tribe Ipomoeeae
Tribe Ipomoeeae has 10 genera and about 755 species, pantropical.
Herbaceous to woody climbers to 30 m or more, or sometimes shrubs or trees or
perennial or rarely annual herbs. The leaves are simple or occasionally pinnately or
palmately compound, usually cordate at the base. The inflorescence is cymose, and
the sepals usually not accrescent. The pollen is characteristically spinulose and
pantoporate. The ovary is 2 or 4-celled or rarely (Ipomoea sect. Pharbitis) 3-celled. The
fruit is a capsule with 4(6) valves, or indehiscent, or woody or leathery with a slightly
fleshy mesocarp.
Genera:
1- Genus Argyreia (100+ species).
2- Genus Astripomoea (12 species).
3- Genus Blinkworthia (2 species).
4- Genus Ipomoea (about 600 species).
5- Genus Lepistemon (6 species).
6- Genus Lepistemonopsis (1 species).
7- Genus Paralepistemon (2 species).
8- Genus Rivea (3 species).
9- Genus Stictocardia (14 species).
10- Genus Turbina (16 species).
2.10- Tribe Maripeae
Tribe Maripeae has 3 (or 4) genera and 36 (or 37) species, in tropical America.
Woody climbers to 30 m or more. The leaves are mostly leathery and more or less
elliptic or ovate, sometimes large (to 25 cm), not cordate, tending to pinnate venation.
The calyx is not accrescent. The styles are 1 and entire or 2 and free. The fruit is
indehiscent, woody and nut-like.
Genera:
1- Genus Dicranostyles (15 species).
2- Genus Lysiostyles (1 species).
3- Genus Maripa (20 species).
In addition, Itzaea (1 species) fits closely with Maripeae in morphological
characters but is placed by molecular data near to Calycobolus of the Poraneae.
2.11- Tribe Merremieae
Tribe Merremieae has 8 genera with 120 or more species, pantropical.
Herbaceous or woody climbers to 25 m or more, or rarely perennial herbs. The leaves
are simple or compound, more or less cordate at the base. The inflorescence is
cymose. The sepals are often accrescent, and the anthers often twist on dehiscence.
There is a single style with a stigma with two globose lobes. The fruit is a 4-valved
capsule or breaks up irregularly.
Genera:
1- Genus Davenportia (1 species.).
2- Genus Decalobanthus (1 species).
3- Genus Hewittia (2 species).
4- Genus Hyalocystis (2 species).
5- Genus Merremia (100+ species).
6- Genus Operculina (12 species),
7- Genus Remirema (1 species), Xenostegia (2 species).
2.12- Tribe Poraneae
Tribe Poraneae has 4 (or 7) genera and 32 (or 53) species, in pantropical
areas. Woody climbers to 20 m or more. The leaves are more or less ovate to elliptic
with pinnate venation, not cordate at the base. Flowers are rather small, 4-20 mm.
The calyx is typically strongly accrescent. There are two free or partially fused styles,
with globose stigmas. The fruits are indehiscent 1-seeded utricles.
Genera:
1- Genus Calycobolus (28 species)
2- Genus Dipteropeltis (1 species)
3- Genus Porana (2 species)
4- Genus Rapona (1 species).
Of these genera, Porana is placed by the molecular data closer to the
Dichondreae, to which it shows little morphological similarity. Metaporana (7species)
is placed as sister to Porana but has close morphological similarities to the Cresseae.
In addition, Neuropeltis (13 species) and Neuropeltopsis (1 species) are placed by the
molecular data sister to Calycobolus, Dipteropeltis and Rapona, and resemble them in
adaptation to wind for seed dispersal, but their accrescent parts are bracts rather
than the calyx.
Source: http://convolvulaceae.myspecies.info/node/9#overlay-context.
3- The most important genera of the Family Convolvulaceae
3.1- Tribe Convolvuleae [3 genera]
Important genera:
1- Genus Calystegia R.Br. - Bindweed, morning glory
2- Genus Convolvulus L. - bindweed, morning glory
3- Genus Polymeria R.Br.
3.2- Tribe Cresseae [12 genera]
Important genera:
1- Genus Bonamia Thouars
2- Genus Cressa L.
3- Genus Evolvulus L.
4- Genus Hildebrandtia Vatke
5- Genus Sabaudiella Chiov.
6- Genus Seddera Hochst.
7- Genus Wilsonia R.Br.
3.3- Tribe Cuscuteae [1 genus]
Important genus:
1- Genus Cuscuta L. - dodder
3.4- Tribe Dichondreae [7 genera]
Important genera:
1- Genus Dichondra J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.
2- Genus Metaporana N.E.Br.
3.5- Tribe Ipomoeeae [10 genera]
Important genera:
1- Genus Argyreia Lour. - Hawaiian baby woodrose
2- Genus Ipomoea L. - morning glory, sweet potato
3.6- Tribe Jacquemontieae [1 genus]
Important genus:
1- Genus Jacquemontia Choisy
3.7- Tribe Merremieae [6 genera]
Important genera:
1- Genus Merremia Dennst. ex Endl. - Hawaiian woodrose
2- Genus Operculina Silva Manso
Source: Solanaceae - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
4- Description of the Family Convolvulaceae
Convolvulaceae can be recognized by their funnel-shaped, radially
symmetrical corolla; the floral formula for the family has five sepals, five fused petals,
five epipetalous stamens (stamens fused to the petals), and a two-part syncarpous and
superior gynoecium. The stems of these plants are usually winding, hence their Latin
name (from convolvere, "to wind").
The leaves are simple and alternate, without stipules. The fruit can be a
capsule, berry, or nut, all containing only two seeds per one locule (one ovule/ovary).
The leaves and starchy, tuberous roots of some species are used as food
stuffs (e.g. sweet potato and water spinach), and the seeds are exploited for their
medicinal value as purgatives. Some species contain ergoline alkaloids that are likely
responsible for the use of these species as ingredients
in psychedelic drugs (e.g. ololiuhqui). The presence of ergolines in some species of this
family is due to infection by fungi related to the ergot fungi of the genus Claviceps.
A recent study of Convolvulaceae species, Ipomoea asarifolia, and its
associated fungi showed the presence of a fungus, identified by DNA sequencing of
18s and ITS ribosomal DNA and phylogenetic analysis to be closely related to fungi in
the family Clavicipitaceae, was always associated with the presence of ergoline
alkaloids in the plant. The identified fungus appears to be a seed-transmitted,
obligate biotroph growing epiphytically on its host. This finding strongly suggests the
unique presence of ergoline alkaloids in some species of the family Convolvulaceae is
due to symbiosis with clavicipitaceous fungi. Moreover, another group of
compounds, loline alkaloids, commonly produced by some members of the
clavicipitaceous fungi (genus Neotyphodium), has been identified in a convolvulaceous
species, but the origin of the loline alkaloids in this species is unknown.
Members of the family are well known as showy garden plants (e.g. morning
glory) and as troublesome weeds (e.g. bindweed).