Thickets Reels

Calystegia sepium R. Br.

Forest Reels

WIND PLANTS

Convolvulaceae

Snårvindan climb fences, hedges and other support that can provide attachment to its long, thin stalks with large, white trumpet-shaped flowers. Snårvindan has no tendrils, but is a typical vine that winds itself around other plants, among other specimens of the same species by growth movements. The Swedish name of the plant - as well as the scientific species name sepium, of the Latin word suepes, hedge - alluding to its common habitats. There are several cultivated forms of thicket reel, but the wild form is extremely decorative, without prejudice to the considered weeds and therefore unwelcome in most gardens.

Snårvindan seems early to have been appreciated because of roots and leaves sharply removal effect. During the Middle Ages thicket reel of the Arab doctors as a means of jaundice.

Although the closely related åkervindan, Convolvulus arvensis, which is considerably smaller and smaller, bright red flowers, is useful as a laxative, it is less active than snårvindan. Åkervindan also act as a very troublesome weed.

Occurrence: Grows rare in thickets, along the shores and in waste places from Skåne in southern Varmland and Uppland. Locally along the coast up to Norrbotten. Earlier often cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens, from where it is often run wild.

Characteristics: A 1-3 m long vine with long underground runners stem is grain, or have blunt edges. Leaves large, pointed heart-equal, on long stems. Flowers white, exceptionally bright red (July-September) on long stems, solitary in leaf folds. Two bracteole covers the sepals. Crown trattlik, in bud right-wing. Seed pod with four seeds. Earth Tribe white, fleshy and long drawn out.

Using parts: Earth Tribe, root and leaves, dried in the shade.

Ingredients: resins, tannins, mineral salts.

Medical action: cancellation of the effect, which partially offset by tannins stopping effect. Galldrivande.

Usage: For constipation and gallbladder.