CONVOLVULUS FAMILY.
CONVOLVULACEÆ.
Upright Convolvulus. | Convolvulus spithamæus. |
Found in June, growing on dry and sandy places, in the open.
The stalk is seldom over 10 inches in height, single, leafy, and erect; it is round, and downy with small hairs. Pale green in color, but red near the foot.
The leaf is between 1 and 2 inches in length, oblong, with taper tip, and a narrow heart-shaped base; it is folded slightly on the midrib; all the ribs show plainly, the margin is entire, and the surface is roughened by hairs; in color a full green, somewhat lighter underneath, with a pinkish tint along the edge and the midrib. It is set on a short, downy, reddish stem. The arrangement is alternate.
The flower is large; the corolla a beautiful vase shape with a rolling, slightly 5-angled rim, in texture fine and thin, the outside of the throat shining; within the vase, at the bottom, may be seen 5 deep pits; it is of a pure and exquisite white, toned to creamy-green near the calyx; the 5 stamens are cream colored while the 2-tipped pistil is white. The greenish calyx is 5-parted with small pointed divisions which are almost concealed by the 2 longer, pale green bracts that clasp together closely about its throat. The flower is set on a rather large, flat, downy, pale stem which rises from the angle of a leaf. The plant bears but few flowers.
Far less common than the Bindweed this flower must be reckoned a treasure-trove by its finder. Its texture is so thin that the calyx-color glows within the throat of the vase with a golden green effulgence.