Convolvulus namaquensis (Schltr. ex A.Meeuse) J.R.I.Wood & R.W.Scotland, 2015

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 : 70

26. Convolvulus namaquensis (Schltr. ex A.Meeuse) J.R.I.Wood & R.W.Scotland stat. nov.

Convolvulus sagittatus Thunb. var. namaquensis Schltr. ex A.Meeuse, Bothalia 6: 682. 1958 [1957]. ( Meeuse 1958: 682).

Type.

SOUTH AFRICA, Western Cape, Schlechter 11124 (holotype PRE!; isotypes BM000930470!, K!, P!).

Description.

Very similar to Convolvulus bidentatus differing in little more than the obovate, pubescent sepals, 6-7 mm long, which are abruptly narrowed to an acute to apiculate apex and are not scarious-margined. The peduncles can be up to 5-flowered. Leaves 1.4-4 × 0.8-1.5, narrowly ovate-deltoid to oblong in outline, hastate at base but auricles simple, margin sinuate or coarsely crenate; corolla 1.7-2 cm long; ovary conical, glabrous, style divided 5-6 mm above base; stigmas 1 mm, narrowly ellipsoid, sometimes unequal in length as in the isotype at K.

Distribution.

South Africa (Western Cape, especially in the Clanwilliam area) and Namibia centred on Namaqualand (Le Roux 2836, Hardy & Bayliss 1073, Hugo 6993, Bolus 9424, Dickson 1879, Moss 17985, Macdonall 18, Galpin 10544, Leipoldt 321).

Notes.

Molecular studies ( Williams et al. 2014) suggest this species is distinct from Convolvulus sagittatus . The shape of the stigmas suggests a relationship with Convolvulus bidentatus and Convolvulus capensis , rather than Convolvulus sagittatus .

We have only cited the isotypes we have seen. The isotype at W appears to represent Convolvulus sagittatus and it is possible that not all collections of Schlechter 11124 represent Convolvulus namaquensis and this may explain why Meeuse treated this as a variety of Convolvulus sagittatus .