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 .