Convolvulus mairei Halacsy , Bull. Soc. Sci., Nancy, ser . 3, 8: 176. 1908. (Maire and Petitmengin 1908: 176).

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 : 52-53

6. Convolvulus mairei Halacsy, Bull. Soc. Sci., Nancy, ser. 3, 8: 176. 1908. (Maire and Petitmengin 1908: 176). Figure 3, t. 34-39.

Type.

GREECE, Parnassus, Lake Zouvala, R.Maire 113 (holotype?AL, not seen.).

Description.

Trailing perennial herb with very slender stems 10-30 cm long, vegetative parts densely pubescent. Leaves petiolate, 0.5-1.3 × 0.3-1 cm, suborbicular to ovate with obtuse apex to deltoid with acute apex, margin undulate, base cordate to hastate; petioles 2-9 mm. Flowers solitary, pedunculate, axillary; peduncles 2-11 mm, strongly recurved in fruit; bracteoles 1-1.5 mm, linear; pedicels 2.5-6 mm; outer sepals 2-3 × 1.5-2 mm, oblong-elliptic, somewhat truncate at both ends, pubescent, margins scarious. Corolla 0.8-1 cm long, pink, unlobed, midpetaline bands pubescent; filaments glandular; ovary pilose; style glabrous, persistent, divided 3-3.5 mm above base, stigmas c. 1.5 mm. Capsule borne on a recurved peduncle, pilose; seeds glabrous, obscurely rugose. [ Sa’ad 1967: 235]

Distribution.

Greece (Maire & Petitmengin 668, Atchley 2314, Guiol 2411). Apparently rare and very localised to the area around Mount Parnassus near Delphi in central Greece.

Notes.

A distinctive species, superficially resembling a diminutive Convolvulus arvensis , with leaves and flower parts all very small. The plant is pubescent in its vegetative parts with a hirsute recurved capsule and a proportionally very small corolla.