Convolvulus hystrix subsp. ruspolii (Dammer ex Hallier f.) 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 : 130

104b. Convolvulus hystrix subsp. ruspolii (Dammer ex Hallier f.) J.R.I.Wood & R.W.Scotland stat. nov.

Convolvulus ruspolii Dammer ex Hallier f., Ann. Reale Inst. Bot. Roma 7: 225. 1898. ( Hallier 1898b: 225). Type. ETHIOPIA, Ogaden, Riva 297 (holotype FT!).

Type.

Based on Convolvulus ruspolii Dammer ex Hall f.

Distinguishing features.

Similar to subsp. hystrix in armature but the spine-like side branches rather slender. Stems glabrous to shortly pubescent. Leaves 5-11 × 1-2 mm, oblong or lanceolate to elliptic, glabrous to puberulent or sericeous. Flowers usually solitary, sometimes in pairs forming a narrowly oblong-lanceolate head twice as long as broad; bracteoles 3-3.5 × 1-1.5 mm, oblong, oblanceolate or obovate, longer than broad; corolla 0.8-1 cm long. [ Sebsebe 2006: 182]

Distribution.

Ogaden region of Ethiopia (Hemming 1530) and Somalia (Popov 1008; Glover & Gilliland 636; Thulin & Warfa 5562; Bally 10164).

Notes.

Some specimens from Somalia (Gillett, Hemming & Watson 21885, Bally & Melville 16271, Thulin & Warfa 5562, Kasmi et al. 850) have ellipsoid flower clusters with 2-4 flowers and are intermediate with subsp. hystrix and suggestive of hybrid origin.