Convolvulus oxyphyllus Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. 7: 26. 1846. (Boissier 1846: 26).

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 : 181

172. Convolvulus oxyphyllus Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. 7: 26. 1846. (Boissier 1846: 26).

Type.

IRAN, Aucher-Eloy 4950 (holotype G; isotypes BM!, K!, P!).

Description.

A very variable undershrub 25-50 cm high from a woody rootstock, with woody, branches which are usually spinescent, vegetative parts usually densely white-tomentellous to villous but indumentum sometimes very short; side branches long and slender, reaching 30cm or short, stout and spinescent. Basal leaves sessile 0.7-2.5 (-4.5) × 0.3-0.7, oblong-lanceolate, apex acute and mucronate, margin entire, narrowed to a petiole-like base, both surfaces tomentose to tomentellous, but the adaxial surface often greener; stem leaves and bracts smaller than the lower leaves, commonly ovate, acute to apiculate. Flowers 1-several in numerous subsessile villous axillary capitula (very rarely helicoid cymose in form), forming an elongate spicate inflorescence; peduncles absent, bracteoles 3.5-8 × 1.5-3 mm, lanceolate to oblong, acute; outer sepals 5-8 × 2-3.5, narrowly elliptic to oblong-obovate, acute, villous; inner sepals slightly narrower; corolla 1-1.4 cm, white or pink, weakly lobed, midpetaline bands pilose; ovary and style pilose; style divided c 5 mm above base, the stigmas 2.5 mm long. Capsule not known. [ Sa’ad 1967: 76; Collenette 1999: 230; Rechinger 1961: 22 ff.; Nowroozi 2002: 34 (plate), 101 (map); Daoud and Al-Rawi 1985 (Plate 214)]

Notes.

We recognise two subspecies: