What does convolvulus mean?
Convolvulus is a genus of flowering plants in the morning-glory family, comprising twining or sprawling herbs best known for their distinctive trumpet- or funnel-shaped blooms, which typically open in the morning and may close by afternoon. The genus includes familiar weeds such as field bindweed as well as popular garden ornamentals like Convolvulus tricolor, prized for vividly coloured flowers. The name derives from the Latin convolvere, meaning 'to roll together' or 'to entwine', reflecting the plant's characteristic habit of coiling its stems around supports. Gardeners value convolvulus for its rapid growth and profuse flowering, though some species are regarded as invasive pests because they are difficult to eradicate once established. In everyday speech, the word is most often encountered in botanical, gardening, and weed-control contexts rather than general conversation.
nounA genus of twining herbaceous plants with funnel-shaped flowers, commonly known as bindweed; the term is especially used in British gardening for cultivated species such as Convolvulus tricolor.
- Any plant of the genus Convolvulus, twining herbs with trumpet-shaped flowers, including both weedy bindweeds and garden ornamentals.
"The morning-glory-like blooms of convolvulus opened at dawn and closed by midday along the garden fence."
"Field convolvulus spread its pale pink trumpets across the neglected allotment."
"She trained the blue convolvulus up an obelisk so its flowers caught the early sun."
As a taxonomic genus name, plural discussion typically uses the Latin-style form 'Convolvulus' (singular genus) rather than counting individual plants; ordinary plural usage treats it as a countable noun.
"Several convolvuluses scrambled over the south-facing wall."
The Latin name means 'to wind around' — a perfect description of how this climbing plant coils itself around anything nearby.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of convolvulus
Convolvulus comes from the classical Latin word for a group of twining plants, derived from convolvere, meaning 'to roll together' or 'to embrace', after the way the stems coil around neighbouring vegetation. The term was adopted into scientific nomenclature when Linnaeus formalised the genus Convolvulus in the eighteenth century, and it remains the standard botanical name today. It shares this Latin root with English words such as convolve and convolution.
How convolvulus is actually used
In British horticulture 'convolvulus' usually refers to ornamental annuals or perennials of the genus, while in North America 'bindweed' is the more common everyday term for the same plants. Some species are considered troublesome agricultural weeds.
Easily confused with convolvulus
Calystegia is a closely related genus of similar twining bindweeds, historically often grouped with Convolvulus but distinguished mainly by its large, two-lobed bracts enclosing the flower bud.