Convolvulus stapfii Rech.f., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 55: 5. 1947. (Rechinger 1947: 5).

Wood, John R. I., Williams, Bethany R. M., Mitchell, Thomas C., Carine, Mark A., Harris, David J. & Scotland, Robert W., 2015, A foundation monograph of Convolvulus L. (Convolvulaceae), PhytoKeys 51, pp. 1-282 : 191

186. Convolvulus stapfii Rech.f., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 55: 5. 1947. (Rechinger 1947: 5). Figure 23, t. 44-49

Type.

IRAN, W. Kazerun, Stapf 374 (holotype W!).

Description.

Perennial herb from a woody rootstock stems to c. 30 cm, the whole plant densely velvety-tomentose of characteristic dark brown colour in herbarium specimens. Basal leaves unknown; stem leaves sessile, 4-7 × 1.2-2 cm, oblong-lanceolate, acute, margin entire, base cuneate, leathery in texture. Flowers in sessile clusters in the axils of bracts along the upper part of the stem; bracts triangular-ovate, 3.5 cm long below but diminishing in size upwards, bracteoles 10 × 1 mm, linear, villous; sepals 10-11 × 3 mm, ovate, finely acuminate to a long aristate point, densely villous; corolla 2-2.2 cm long, colour unknown, unlobed, midpetaline bands adpressed pilose; ovary apically pilose; style glabrous, divided c. 12 mm above base; stigmas (fide Sa’ad 1967) c. 3 mm long. Capsule not seen. [ Sa’ad 1967: 172; Nowroozi 2002: 69 (plate), 104 (map)]

Distribution.

Endemic to Iran (Stapf 1042). Apparently very rare and we have seen no recent collections.

Notes.

Shares with Convolvulus reticulatus a distinctive indumentum in texture and colour but differs in the sessile flower clusters, pilose ovary, long style and aristate sepals. It is a poorly known species apparently not collected recently.