Convolvulus cephalophorus Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. 7: 22. 1846. (Boissier 1846: 22).

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 : 191-192

187. Convolvulus cephalophorus Boiss., Diagn. Pl. Orient. 7: 22. 1846. (Boissier 1846: 22). Figure 23, t. 16-23

Type.

IRAN, Kotschy 138 (holotype G; isotypes E!, FHO!, P!).

Description.

Perennial herb from a woody rootstock with stems to at least 40 cm, the whole plant densely but very shortly tomentose leaving leaf veins visible; branches somewhat woody. Lower leaves c. 8 × 1.5 cm, oblanceolate, narrowed to a long petiole-like base; stem leaves 2.5-4.5 × 1.5-2.5 cm, ovate, obtuse, margin entire, base cordate and subsessile. Flowers in dense axillary heads, sessile above, shortly pedunculate below; bracts 1.3-2.5 × 1-2.2 cm, ovate, acuminate, basally cordate; peduncles 0-1.5 cm; bracteoles 10-15 × 1-2 mm, linear, long-pilose; pedicels absent; outer sepals 14-16 × 3.5-4 mm, ovate, abruptly narrowed, rounded and with a long, aristate point, long pilose; inner sepals somewhat smaller, c. 12 × 1.5-3 mm; corolla 1.5-1.8 cm, pink, midpetaline bands long-pilose; ovary comose; style glabrous, divided c. 6 mm above base, stigma 3 mm; capsule not seen. [ Sa’ad 1967: 155; Nowroozi 2002: 75 (plate), 104 (map)]

Distribution.

Endemic to Iran (Stapf 373, Haussknecht s.n. [4/1868], Stutz 984). Apparently rare.

Notes.

Sa’ad described the ovary as glabrous but it is comose as in her illustration.