Nearly all taxa in Calystegia intergrade geographically into neighboring taxa with the exception of the widespread coastal species, C. soldanella (Linnaeus) R. Brown. It is impossible to draw clearly defined specific limits, and intermediate forms are always found where two taxa approximate geographically[].

Common Name:

General Information

Calystegia pellita is a Pherbaceous perennial plant producing stems 40 - 80cm long, but up to 100cm,from a wide-spreading, branched rhizomatous rootstock. The stems are prostrate to weakly climbing, sometimes more or less erect[, ].
The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

Known Hazards

Although no reports of toxicity have been seen for this species, at least some, if not all members of this genus are purgative[], some caution is advised.

Botanical References

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Range

E. Asia - Siberia, ?Mongolia, northern and eastern China, Korea

Habitat

Grassy places and mountain slopes, sometimes a weed of cultivation; at elevations from 300 - 1,700 metres[]. Dry, herbaceous slopes, meadows, shrubby thickets, fallow land, sometimes among crops[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial Climber
Height	3.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Lepidoptera
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Easily grown in ordinary garden soil in a sunny position, but plants are apt to become invasive[, ].

Edible Uses

Root - cooked[, ].

Young shoots - cooked[, ].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a cold frame in a free draining compost and only just cover. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.
Division in early spring whilst dormant[].