Convolvulus oxyphyllus subsp. oxyphyllus

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 : 181-182

172a. Convolvulus oxyphyllus subsp. oxyphyllus Figure 25, t. 28-35

Convolvulus oxyphyllus subsp. cateniflorus Rech.f., Anz. Österr. Akad. Iss., Math.-Naturwiss. Kl. 98: 23. 1961. ( Rechinger 1961: 23). Type. IRAQ, Diyala River, near Mandali, Rechinger 9639 (holotype W!).

Convolvulus cateniflorus (Rech.f.) Sa’ad, Meded. Bot. Mus. Herb. Rijks Univ. Utrecht 281: 154. 1967. ( Sa’ad 1967: 154). Type. Based on Convolvulus oxyphyllus subsp. cateniflorus Rech.f.

Distinguishing features.

The type subspecies is characterised by the sessile, sometimes clasping, very acute, sometimes apiculate stem leaves and bracts, long slender inflorescence branches with flowers usually 2 -3 together, the sepals acute and the corolla 8-13 mm long. Spinescent side branches are few or absent.

Distribution.

Iraq (Wheeler-Haines 1127, Rawi 21548; Guest et al. 14347, Guest 4016, 4020, Rechinger 8072, 9658, Barklay 2430, Uvarov s.n. [26/5/1932], Hazim 30665, Katib & Tikriti 29735); Iran (Haussknech t s.n. [6/1868]; Olivier & Brugière s.n.); Kuwait (Dickson 243). Mainly in Iraq.

Notes.

Rawi & Alizzi 34452 is atypical because of short side branchlets, these and the main branches terminating in slender sharp spines. It is suggested that Convolvulus cateniflorus differs from typical Convolvulus oxyphyllus in the shorter, less spinescent, more densely tomentose stems and solitary flowers (Rechinger 1964: 483) but all kinds of intermediates can be found.