Blushing bindweed facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blushing bindweed |
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| Convolvulus erubescens near Taralga | |
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Convolvulus
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| Species: |
erubescens
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The Blushing Bindweed (also known as Australian Bindweed) is a pretty plant found only in Australia. Its scientific name is Convolvulus erubescens. This plant is a perennial, which means it lives for more than two years. It's also a herbaceous plant, meaning it has soft stems instead of woody ones. It belongs to the Convolvulaceae family, which includes many types of bindweeds and morning glories.
What Does Blushing Bindweed Look Like?
Blushing Bindweed has stems that like to trail along the ground or twine around other plants. Its leaves can look different from one plant to another. They might be oval, triangle-shaped, or even arrow-shaped. These leaves are usually about 2.5 to 5.5 centimeters (1 to 2 inches) long. They can be smooth or have small hairs on them. The edges of the leaves might be smooth near the bottom but become a bit wavy or toothed towards the tip.
The plant gets its name from its lovely flowers. These flowers are usually rosy-pink, white, or light purple. They are shaped like a funnel and are about 7 to 15 millimeters (0.3 to 0.6 inches) long. The center of the flower is often a pale green color. You'll usually find one to three flowers growing together on a thin stem.
Blushing Bindweed mostly blooms in late spring and early autumn. But in some places, you might see its flowers all year round! After the flowers, the plant produces small, round seed capsules. These capsules are about 4.5 to 6.5 millimeters (0.18 to 0.26 inches) across and have a smooth surface.
How Did Blushing Bindweed Get Its Name?
The scientific name for Blushing Bindweed, Convolvulus erubescens, was first officially described in 1807. This was done by a person named John Sims. He published his description in a magazine called Botanical Magazine.
The second part of the name, erubescens, comes from a Latin word. It means "reddening" or "blushing." This probably refers to the lovely pink or rosy color of the flowers, which look like they are blushing!
Where Does Blushing Bindweed Grow?
Blushing Bindweed is a plant that is endemic to Australia. This means it is found naturally only in Australia and nowhere else in the world. You can find it growing in many different parts of the country. It likes to live in areas near the coast and just inland from the coast.
This plant grows in various habitats. It can be found in eucalypt forests, which are forests filled with eucalyptus trees. It also likes the edges of rainforests, where it can get some sunlight. You might also spot it in grasslands and woodlands where there are open grassy areas. Blushing Bindweed grows in every state of Australia, as well as the Northern Territory.
