Convolvulus verdcourtianus Sebsebe, Kew Bull. 48: 381. 1993. (Sebsebe 1993: 209).

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 : 133

108. Convolvulus verdcourtianus Sebsebe, Kew Bull. 48: 381. 1993. (Sebsebe 1993: 209).

Type.

SOMALIA, Bally & Melville 15583 (holotype K).

Description.

Spiny undershrub, appressed pubescent/strigose in its vegetative parts, branches spinescent; sterile spines also present. Leaves sessile, 10-35 × 1-2.5 mm, linear to narrowly lanceolate, obtuse, cuneate at the base. Flowers borne on usually paired spinescent side branches 1.5-3 cm long, the individual flowers solitary or paired arising in the axils of minute bracteoles; bracteoles 0.5 × 0.3 mm, oblong, caducous; pedicels 1-2 mm long; outer sepals 3-4.5 × 1.5-2 mm, oblong to lanceolate, apex obtuse and apiculate; corolla 8 -11 mm long, white, sometimes flushed pink or pale blue, very shallowly lobed, midpetaline bands pubescent; ovary glabrous; style glabrous, divided 1.5-3.5 mm above base; stigmas 3.5-4.5 mm, linear. Capsule glabrous; seeds shortly pubescent, smooth.

Distribution.

Endemic to northern Somalia (Becket 736).

Notes.

Superficially rather similar to Convolvulus hystrix but distinguished by the tiny bracteoles, cuneate-based leaves and pubescent seeds. Perhaps more significant are the long, linear stigmas, which contrast strongly with the short, narrowly elliptic stigmas of Convolvulus hystrix .