Convolvulus caput-medusae Lowe, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 3,6: 155. 1860. (Lowe 1860: 155).

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 : 178

169. Convolvulus caput-medusae Lowe, Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist., ser. 3,6: 155. 1860. (Lowe 1860: 155).

Type.

CANARY ISLANDS, Fuerteventura, Lowe s.n. (holotype BM000056985!; isotype K!).

Description.

Hummock-forming undershrub 10 to 30 cm high, spreading horizontally to c. 60 cm; stems white-sericeous, stiff, spinescent when old. Leaves mostly alternate but sometimes clustered in short brachyblasts, sessile, 0.4-1.5 × 1.5-2.5 cm, oblanceolate to spathulate, acute, entire, cuneate at base, grey-sericeous with short, appressed scaly hairs. Flowers more or less sessile, axillary, 1 (-2) together; bracts similar to leaves but smaller, 5-6 × 1.5 mm; pedicels c. 1 mm, bracteoles 1.5 × 0.5 mm, oblong, acute; sepals all similar, 3-4 × 1.5-2 mm, broadly oblong-obovate, acute to mucronate, pubescent; corolla 8-10 mm long, white or pale pink, unlobed, midpetaline bands adpressed pilose, reddish; ovary with a bright orange disc, pilose; style pilose, divided c. 2.5 mm above base; stigmas 2.5 mm. Capsule reddish, densely pilose with the style persistent; seeds not seen. [ Sa’ad 1967: 71 p.p.]

Distribution.

Canary Islands: Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura (Carine & Durães 158, Bramwell & Humphries 3095, Kunkel 13, Beckett 736; Peck 5). Globally rare.