Convolvulus peninsularis 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 : 142-143

118. Convolvulus peninsularis J.R.I.Wood & R.W.Scotland sp. nov. Figures 2b and 16, t. 37-40

Diagnosis.

Sepalis ovatis acuminatis 2.5-4 mm longis Convolvulus sarmentosum et Convolvulus hildebrandtii tangit sed ramis lignosis, sepalis pubescentibus pilis patentibus, affine Convolvulus leptocladi Boissier sed sepalis ovatis dignoscenda.

Type.

OMAN, Breik Qotait, Mussandan Peninsula, 30 March 1980, R. Whitcombe 807 (holotype E00507115!).

Description.

Small unarmed undershrub c. 15 cm high, stems rigid, minutely adpressed pubscent. Leaves almost completely absent, probably lanceolate, certainly acute, entire, thinly pubescent. Inflorescence elongate, formed of pedunculate dichasial cymes arising in the axils of bracts at right angles to the stem; bracts 2-10 × 0.5-2 mm, linear to narrowly oblong, acute, entire, cuneate at base, thinly appressed pubescent; peduncles 1.5-3 cm long, straight, rigid, appressed pubescent; bracteoles 1-2 × 0.5 mm, linear, pubescent; pedicels c. 5-15 mm; flowers almost always solitary; sepals 3.5-4 × 1.5 mm, ovate, acuminate, pubescent with spreading hairs, inner sepals similar but somewhat scarious-margined; corolla c. 10 mm long, of unknown colour and shape, midpetaline bands pubescent; filaments c. 1 mm; anthers c. 1.5 mm; ovary c. 1.25 mm, acuminate, glabrous; style glabrous, divided c. 2 mm above base, stigmas c. 2 mm.

Distribution.

Known only from the type collection made on the Musandam Peninsula in Oman.

Notes.

This species is very similar morphogically to Convolvulus leptocladus and is similarly nearly aphyllous but differs in the ovate-acuminate sepals which are pubescent with spreading hairs. It is more obviously woody than Convolvulus hildebrandtii with stouter peduncles, recalling those of Convolvulus eremophilus , and the inflorescence is of well-developed dichasial cymes. The sepals are similar in shape to those of Convolvulus hildebrandtii but slightly larger. There is abundant spreading pubescence on all parts of the inflorescence, not just on the sepals.

This species is only known from a single collection. It may be rare and threatened or simply overlooked but for the time being should be classified as Data Deficient (DD) within IUCN (2012) guidelines. The epithet " peninsularis " refers to the Mussandan Peninsula in Oman where the type collection was made. No information is known about its precise habitat.