Field Bindweed

Field bindweed at Filnore Woods

The Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) is currently decorating the grassland at Filnore with it's almond-scented flowers, white with five pink patches.  It attracts many insects.

 Hedge bindweed.  

It's relative the Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium) has much bigger trumpet-shaped flowers which are usually white. The leaves are bigger too and more heart-shaped than the arroe-head leaves of field bindweed.

The flowers of hedge bindweed have no scent but are visited by the convolvulus hawk moth which sucks out the nectar with its extra long tongue. 

Photo: Keith Baldie of Butterfly Conservation

The Convolvulus Hawkmoth (Agrius convolvuli) is spectacular with its black and pink striped body.  It only flies at night but you may see it parked on a wall or tree trunk during the day.

They can't take our cold damp winters so the ones we see are migrants from Africa, flying low over the sea.  Although they lay eggs and the caterpillars hatch, they die off with the frosts in November.  Maybe global warming will change this.