Polygonum cilinode (Fringed bindweed)

Polygonum cilinode Michx.

Fringed bindweed

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Caryophyllidae	Cacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
Order	Caryophyllales	Includes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
Family	Polygonaceae	Knotweed or smartweed family
Genus	Polygonum	Greek poly, “many,” and gonu, “knee,” for the swollen jointed stems
Species	cilinode	From Latin cilium, “hair,” and nodus, “node,” referring to the fringe of hairs at each node

About plant names...

These perennial plants are vinelike, climbing over other plants. They are common in disturbed areas such as dry cleared forests, on shores and dunes and gravel pits, and on open rocky ground.

Plants: Stems are 12-197" (30-500 cm) long. It climbs by twining around other stems, from right to left. There are stiff bristles at each node (ocrea. Each ocrea is ¹/₁₆-⅛" (3-4 mm) long.

Leaves: Alternate, oval to triangular, with wavy margins, often with reddish veins standing out. Their stems (petioles) are ⅜-2" (1-6 cm) long.

Flowers: Panicles are 1½-4" (4-10 cm) long, comprised of greenish-white or pink-fringed flowers. Each flower is 5-parted. Flowers appear from June to October.

Fruits: ⅛-³/₁₆" (4-6 mm) seeds are black and very shiny.

6/29/2014 · Mount Agamenticus, York, Maine
≈ 7 × 10" (16 × 25 cm) ID is uncertain

6/29/2014 · Mount Agamenticus, York, Maine
≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 16 cm) ID is uncertain

Some similar species:

	*Polygonum convolvulus*	*Polygonum scandens*	You are here Polygonum cilinode
Common Name	black bindweed	climbing false buckwheat	fringed bindweed
Plant	Vine up to 3' (1 m) long. At leaf nodes there is an ocrea.	Vines up to 20' (6.1 m) long. Stems are light green to bright red, almost hairless. Where leaves attach to the stem, there is a protective sheath, or ocrea	Stems are 12-197" (30-500 cm) long. It climbs by twining around other stems, from right to left. There are stiff bristles at each node (ocrea. Each ocrea is ¹/₁₆-⅛" (3-4 mm) long.
Flowers	Small, greenish-pink to greenish-white, in racemes (bunches); individual flowers are ⅛" (4 mm) long, racemes are up to 2½" (6.3 cm) long	Racemes are 2-8" (5-20 cm) long, with small greenish flowers.	Panicles are 1½-4" (4-10 cm) long, comprised of greenish-white or pink-fringed flowers. Each flower is 5-parted. Flowers appear from June to October.
Leaves	Alternate, triangular or heart-shaped, lower corners of leaves aim *inward toward the petiole (leaf stem)*	Ovate, approaching sagittate (shaped like an arrowhead), up to 2" (5 cm) × 4" (10 cm). Leaf petioles are up to 1½" (3.8 cm) long	Alternate, oval to triangular, with wavy margins, often with reddish veins standing out. Their stems (petioles) are ⅜-2" (1-6 cm) long.
Fruit	Three-sided, with a single dull black seed	Greenish, with white or pink borders.	⅛-³/₁₆" (4-6 mm) seeds are black and very shiny.
Range/ Zones
Type	Wild	Wild	Wild