Short Description
The copse-bindweed can have stems up to three metres long.
The leaves stand alternately on the shoot axis. They are spear- or arrow-shaped. There is a nectar pit at the base of the petiole.
The stem grows right-winding, creeping or climbing. It is bent back and forth, round and smooth.
The flowers are small, inconspicuous and greenish white or reddish overflowing. They grow in groups in spike-like inflorescences.
The fruits are black, shiny nuts. They are angular ovoid. When unripe they have membranous wings.
Features
Copse-bindweed
Fallopia dumetorum
round stem
shiny fruits
creeping or climbing
In the city
Copse-bindweed occurs scattered to frequently in hedges and bushes as well as forest edges and clearings. It also grows on riparian bushes. It prefers moist, nutrient-rich sites with sandy and clay soils.
Fun Facts
The wings on the fruits serve the spreading by the wind.
The flowers are only open when the sun is shining.
On riverbanks, it sometimes forms impenetrable thickets, similar to the related Japanese knotweed.
The flowering period is from July to September.
It is an annual plant, i.e. it flowers only once and dies after the seeds have ripened.
- Endangerment level Germany: not endangered
The copse-bindweed is found in the temperate latitudes of Eurasia. It is native to Germany.
Sources
Blätter und unreife Früchte, Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Heggeduizendknoop.jpg
Habitus, Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fallopia_dumetorum_sl6.jpg
Habitus, AnRo0002, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20120828Staden_Saarbruecken8.jpg
Kammer, P. M. (2016) Pflanzen einfach bestimmen. Schritt für Schritt einheimische Arten kennenlernen, Bern: Haupt Verlag.
Spohn, M., Golte-Bechtle, M. & Spohn, R. (2015) Was blüht denn da? Stuttgart: Franckh Kosmos Verlag.
Page „Hecken-Windenknöterich“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 11.08.2017, 19:50 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Hecken-Windenkn%C3%B6terich&oldid=168077979 (Accessed: 26.07.2018).