Editing Convolvulaceae (section)

== Description ==
Convolvulaceae can be recognized by their funnel-shaped, radially symmetrical [[corolla (flower)|corolla]]; the floral formula for the family has five [[sepals]], five fused [[petals]], five epipetalous [[stamens]] (stamens fused to the petals), and a two-part [[syncarpous]] and superior [[gynoecium]]. The stems of these plants are usually winding, hence their Latin name (from ''convolvere'', "to wind"). The leaves are simple and alternate, without [[stipule]]s. In parasitic [[Cuscuta]] (dodder) they are reduced to scales. The fruit can be a capsule, berry, or nut, all containing only two seeds per one [[locule]] (one [[ovule]]/[[ovary (botany)|ovary]]).
[[File:EB1911 Convolvulus sepium.jpg|thumb|left|''Convolvulus sepium'', slightly reduced.]]

The leaves and starchy, [[tuberous root]]s of some species are used as [[food]]stuffs (e.g. [[sweet potato]] and [[Ipomoea aquatica|water spinach]]), and the seeds are exploited for their medicinal value as [[purgative]]s. Some species contain [[ergoline]] [[alkaloids]] that are likely responsible for the use of these species as ingredients in [[psychedelic drug|psychedelic]] [[Psychoactive drugs|drugs]] (e.g. [[ololiuhqui]]). The presence of ergolines in some species of this family is due to infection by [[fungi]] related to the ergot fungi of the genus ''[[Claviceps]]''. A recent study of Convolvulaceae species, ''[[Ipomoea asarifolia]]'', and its associated [[fungi]] showed the presence of a fungus, identified by [[DNA sequencing]] of 18s and ITS [[ribosomal DNA]] and [[phylogeny|phylogenetic analysis]] to be closely related to fungi in the family [[Clavicipitaceae]], was always associated with the presence of ergoline alkaloids in the plant. The identified fungus appears to be a seed-transmitted, obligate [[biotroph]] growing [[epiphytic]]ally on its host.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Ulrike Steiner |author2=Mahalia A. Ahimsa-Müller |author3=Anne Markert |author4=Sabine Kucht |author5=Julia Groß |author6=Nicole Kauf |author7=Monika Kuzma |author8=Monika Zych |author9=Marc Lamshöft |author10=Miroslawa Furmanowa |year=2006 |title=Molecular characterization of a seed transmitted clavicipitaceous fungus occurring on dicotyledoneous plants (Convolvulaceae) |journal=[[Planta (journal)|Planta]] |volume=224 |issue=3 |pages=533–544 |pmid=16525783 |doi=10.1007/s00425-006-0241-0|bibcode=2006Plant.224..533S |s2cid=25682792 |display-authors=etal}}</ref> This finding strongly suggests the unique presence of ergoline alkaloids in some species of the family Convolvulaceae is due to [[symbiosis]] with [[Clavicipitaceae|clavicipitaceous]] fungi. Moreover, another group of compounds, [[loline alkaloids]], commonly produced by some members of the clavicipitaceous fungi (genus ''[[Neotyphodium]]''), has been identified in a convolvulaceous species, but the origin of the loline alkaloids in this species is unknown.<ref name="Tofern et al 1999">{{cite journal |author1=Britta Tofern |author2=Macki Kaloga |author3=Ludger Witte |author4=Thomas Hartmann |author5=Eckart Eich |year=1999 |title=Occurrence of loline alkaloids in ''Argyreia mollis'' (Convolvulaceae) |journal=[[Phytochemistry (journal)|Phytochemistry]] |volume=51 |issue=8 |pages=1177–1180 |doi=10.1016/S0031-9422(99)00121-1|bibcode=1999PChem..51.1177T }}</ref>

Members of the family are well known as food plants (e.g. sweet potatoes and [[Ipomoea aquatica|water spinach]]), as showy garden plants (e.g. [[morning glory]]) and as troublesome weeds (e.g. [[bindweed]] (mainly ''[[Convolvulus]]'' and ''[[Calystegia]]'') and [[Cuscuta|dodder]]), while ''[[Humbertia madagascariensis]]'' is a medium-sized tree and ''[[Ipomoea carnea]]'' is an erect shrub. Some parasitic members of this family are also used medicinally.<ref name="oneill_rana_2016">{{cite journal|last1=O'Neill|first1=A.R.|last2=Rana|first2=S.K.|date=2019|title=An ethnobotanical analysis of parasitic plants (Parijibi) in the Nepal Himalaya|journal=Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine|volume=12|issue=14|page=14|doi=10.1186/s13002-016-0086-y|pmid=26912113|pmc=4765049|doi-access=free}}</ref>
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