Convolvulus stenocladus Chiov., Fl. Somala 1: 229. 1929. (Chiovenda 1929: 229).

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 : 125-126

96. Convolvulus stenocladus Chiov., Fl. Somala 1: 229. 1929. (Chiovenda 1929: 229). Figure 14:, t. 29-36

Type.

SOMALIA, Puccioni & Stefanini 414 & 584 (syntypes FT).

Description.

Perennial herb with prostrate stems to 50 cm, vegetative parts appressed pilose. Leaves shortly petiolate, 0.7-3 × 0.1-0.3 cm, linear to narrowly oblong, acute, base cuneate, margin entire; petioles 0.5-1.5 mm long. Flowers 1 (- 2) in pedunculate, axillary, bracteolate heads; peduncles 12-30 mm long, often flexuose or reflexed; bracteoles 4-7 × 1.25-1.5 mm, linear to lanceolate, appressed to sepals; pedicels absent; outer sepals 5-8 × 2-3 mm, lanceolate to ovate; corolla 12 mm long, blue, unlobed, midpetaline bands pubescent; ovary glabrous; style glabrous, divided c. 2 mm above base, stigmas 2.5 mm, linear. Capsule glabrous; seeds glabrous, sinuate-ridged. [ Thulin 2006: 237]

Distribution.

Somalia (Thulin & Dahir 6589; Gillett et al. 22497; Drake-Brockman 972).

Notes.

Easily recognised by its flexuose peduncles, one-flowered heads and bracteoles appressed to the sepals.

Two specimens (Lavranos & Carter 23310, Gillett & Becket 206) from north of Mogadishu in Somalia have the appearance of hybrids or intermediates between Convolvulus stenocladus and Convolvulus capituliferus . The heads are few-flowered (mostly 2-3-flowered), sessile towards the apex but pedunculate below.