CALYSTE'GIA (from eaab/, calyx, and crrhce, to cover), a g sus of plants composed of species included under Conre/ rides, and by Robert Brown. It is distinguished by two large bracts which inclose the flower. It has a 5-parted calyx, a cam panulate 5-plicate corolla, one style, a 2-lobed stigma, globose or terete lobes, a 2-celled ()yttrium with 2 ovules; the capsule only 1-celled from the shortness of the dissepiment. The species are laeteacent, glabrous, twining or prostrate herbs, with solitary 1-flowered peduncles.
C. &plain, Great Bindweed, has sagittate or cordate very acute leaves ; lobes truncate, entire, cordate, keeled ; acute bracts, longer than the calyx, but one-half shorter than the corolla ; the peduncles square; sepala acute. This is the Conrolrulta Sepium of older botanists., The genus Calystegia is not adopted by Koch, Babington, and other botanists. It is a native of Europe, in hedges, and is found in Great Britain very common. It possesses apparently the properties of the genus armoire/us. llaller and Withering state that the expressed juice of the root may be used as a substitute for acammony. It is
sometimes called German Scammony. In doses of 20 or 30 grains it has been recommended as a hydragogue cathartic in dropsies, by Mason Good.
C. Soldanella, Sea Bindweed, has trailing glabrous rather fleshy leaves, reniform, entire, or a little angular ; peduncles angular, angles winged ; bracta large, ovate, blunt, mucronate, generally shorter than the mays. It is a native of many parts of Europe on the sea-coast, and also some parts of Asia. It is common on the coasts of Great Britain. The young stalks are sometimes eaten pickled. The juice of the mature plant is however a cathartic.
Several other species of this genus are described. Like the Comas/ nal they are elegant plants in blossom, and are of the most easy culture. They may be propagated by pieces of the root or by seeds. The C. Soldenelle should now and then be watered with salt-water.
(Don, Gardener's Dictionary.)