Convolvulus rufescens Choisy, Mem . Soc. Phys. Geneve 6: 477. 1834. (Choisy 1834: 479).

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 : 54-55

10. Convolvulus rufescens Choisy, Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve 6: 477. 1834. (Choisy 1834: 479).

Convolvulus flavus sensu C.B. Clarke (1883: 219) et auct. mult.

Type.

INDIA, Tamil Nadu/Kerala, Nilgiri Hills, J.P. Leschenault s.n. (lectotype P03548937!, designated here).

Description.

Perennial scrambling and climbing herb to at least 50 cm, stems pubescent, the hairs reddish on young parts. Leaves petiolate, 2-8 × 2-6 cm, lanceolate to broadly ovate-deltoid, acute and mucronulate, margin variable, undulate to deeply dentate, base broadly cordate in outline but cuneate onto the petiole, auricles entire to deeply dentate, pubescent on both surfaces, especially on the veins beneath; petioles 1.5-3 cm. Flowers 1-2 (-3) in pedunculate, axillary cymes; peduncles often paired, 6-8 mm; bracteoles c. 1.25 mm, caducous, ovate, acuminate; pedicels 8-10 mm, more densely pubescent than peduncles; sepals 6-7 × 3-4 mm, outer sepals obovate-elliptic, abruptly narrowed at apex, apiculate, pubescent, inner sepals similar, obovate, mucronate, scarius-margined, subglabrous; corolla 10-12 mm, whire or cream, deeply lobed, mid-petaline bands terminating in a tuft of hairs; filaments glabrous; ovary glabrous, style glabrous, divided c. 5 mm above base, stigmas 1.5-2 mm, linear. Capsule glabrous, seeds glabrous.

Distribution.

Endemic to South India: Nilgiri and Palni (Pulney) Hills (Wight 1992, Perottet 892, Clarke 10758).

Notes.

Like the two preceeding species, this is a geographically isolated species. Although quite variable, the leaves are often strongly dentate and the auricles lobed. The corolla is similar to that of the South American species Convolvulus crenatifolius and Convolvulus hermanniae as well as to that of Convolvulus sinuatodentatus from Myanmar. The peduncles are unusual as they are commonly paired. We have not seen recent collections.