Hedge False Bindweed

Hedge False Bindweed

Calystegia sepium

This member of the Morning Glory family is considered native to Canada and native/introduced in the lower 48.  This means that it is probably native to Indiana, although considered a weed by some.

This Bindweed twines around other plants, making it difficult to get a good picture of just the Bindweed plant.  Note that it twines clockwise around other plants.

For those of you into medicinal plants, a web search produces the following information:

"The root is demulcent, diuretic, febrifuge, poultice and strongly purgative. Use of the root is believed to increase the flow of bile."

All good stuff!  This means that it will form a mucous layer, ease a headache, heal a sore, make you pee and poop better, and increase the flow of bile.  I'm not sure why you need to increase your flow of bile.  In fact, how would anyone know if eating the root of this plant increases your flow of bile.  Do they put a little flowmeter on your bile duct and then have you start eating the root while measuring? Or ... is that a bunch of hooey?

That same web page said that it is edible but ...

"It should not be eaten regularly, however, due to its possible purgative effect"

i.e. it gives you diarrhea.

So, that's all I know about Hedge False Bindweed.