4. Fallopia convolvulus (L.) A. Löve in Taxon. 19: 300. 1970; Holub in Folia Geobot. Phytotax. Praha 6: 176. 1971; Hara in Hara et al. Enum. Fl. Pl. Nepal 3: 174. 1982; Grierson & D.G.Long, l.c. 169; Ronse Decr. & Akeroyd in Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 98: 369. 1988; Boulos, Fl. Egypt 1:30. 1999. (Fig.16, F-I).
Polygonum convolvulus L. Sp. Pl. 464. 1753; Hook. f., Fl. Brt. Ind. 5: 53. 1886; Kom., Fl. URSS 5: 694. 1936; Cullen & Coode in P.H.Davis, Fl. Turk. 2: 281. 1966; Schiman-Czeika & Rech.f. l.c. 51; R. R. Stewart, Ann: Cat. Vasc. Pl. W. Pak. & Kashm. 205. 1972; Bhopal & Chaudhri, l.c. 70; Bilderdykia convolvulus (L.) Dumort. Fl. Belg. 18: 1827; D.A.Webb in Tutin et al., Fl. Europ. 1: 81. 1964; Fagopyrum convolvulus (L.) H. Gross in Bull. Geogr. Bot. 23: 21. 1913; Fagopyrum carinatum Moench, Meth. 290. 1794; Tiniaria convolvulus (L.) Webb & Moq. in Webb & Berth. Phyt. Canar. 3: 221. 1847.
Prostrate or twining annual herb. Stem branched and angular, covered with short hairs, internodes usually short. Leaves petiolate, petiole 6-15 mm long, lamina ovate to oblong ovate or rotund, 15-50 x 7.5-30 mm, acute, with cordate or hastate base, rarely puberulous, glandular; ochrea short, tubular, 3(-3.5) mm long. Flowers 3-6 in axillary fascicles; pedicel shorter than perianth, jointed above the middle. Bracts very short, perianth 5-cleft, tepals green, white margined, 2-2.5 mm long, the outer prominently bluntly-keeled or narrowly winged, slightly accrescent in fruit. Stamens 6-8 with short filaments and dorsifixed anthers. Ovary trigonous, styles 3, very short, stigmas capitate. Nuts dull black to dark brown, 4-5 x 2-2.5 mm, finely granular.
Fl. Per.: May-September.
Type: Described from Europe Hb. Linn. 510.38 (LINN).
Grows at an altitude of 1500-3500 m, as a weed in areas of cultivation, also in crevices in moist shady places; Distribution: Europe, N. Africa, W. Asia, Himalayas (Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sikkim, Xizang).
Closely related to Fallopia dumetorum (L.) Holub and F. dentato-alata (F. Schmidt) Holub, however, F. convolvulus (L.) Holub can easily be identified by the absence of coriaceous wings of the nut and much smaller pedicel, which is articulated above the middle. In both the species, F. dumetorum and F. dentatoalata the pedicel is much longer (up to 10 mm long) and articulated above the middle.
