Convolvulus randii Rendle, J. Bot. 40: 189. 1902. (Rendle 1902: 189).

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 : 74-75

33. Convolvulus randii Rendle, J. Bot. 40: 189. 1902. (Rendle 1902: 189). Figure 7, t. 15-22

Convolvulus ocellatus var. plurinervius Verdc., Kirkia 1: 28, pl. 4. 1961. ( Verdcourt 1961: 28). Type. ZIMBABWE, Wild 3926 (holotype K!; isotypes EA, SRGH).

Type.

ZIMBABWE, Gweru, Rand 274 (holotype BM000930474!).

Description.

Perennial herb, all vegetative parts covered in appressed sericeous hairs; rootstock woody, very stout, apparently horizontally spreading; stems erect or ascending, rarely rambling over shrubs, 20-80 cm high. Leaves shortly petiolate, 0.8-3 × 0.2-2 cm, oblong to obovate, apex acute to apiculate, margin entire to crenate, not revolute, base truncate to cordate, prominently veined especially on the lower surface; petioles 0.5-3 mm. Flowers solitary, axillary, pedunculate; peduncles (0.1-)0.3-2.5 cm; bracteoles 3-5 mm, linear; pedicels 2-10 mm; outer sepals 8-10 × 3-6 mm, broadly to narrowly ovate, tapered to an apiculate apex; corolla 16-20 mm long, white or pale pink, shallowly lobed, the midpetaline bands pubescent, terminating in teeth; ovary glabrous, finely acuminate; style glabrous, divided 5 mm above base, stigmas 5 mm, linear. Capsule glabrous seeds smooth.

Distribution.

Endemic to Zimbabwe, gowing in grassland on serpentine deposits, 1270-1700 m. (Brummitt & Drummond 15281, Drummond 6166, Wild 5594, Chase 7247).

Notes.

Somewhat variable in habit but readily recognised by the broad oblong-obovate leaves, silvery sericeous indumentum, acute sepals and larger corollas. Walters 2433 could be interpreted as a hybrid with Convolvulus ocellatus - it is geographically and morphologically intermediate.