Convolvulus farinosus

P. V., Sutar, S. B., Patil, S. A., Patil, A. P., Jangam & Shimpale, V. B., 2024, Convolvulus farinosus (Convolvulaceae): an addition to the Flora of India from Nilgiri Hills, Rheedea 34 (5), pp. 506-509 : 506-509

Convolvulus farinosus L., Mant. Pl. 2: 203. 1771 (Linnaeus 1771: 203). Figure 7, t. 1–6. Type

(designated by Meeuse, 1958: 684): Cultivated plant grown at Uppsala (LINN 218.6!). Figs. 1 & 2 .

Perennial herbs; pubescent to velvety silky when young. Stem prostrate or twining, grows c. 90 cm long. Leaves petiolate, 4–7 × 1.5–3 cm; leaf blade triangular to cordate-deltoid, auricles acute, obscurely crenate, apex acute to acuminate, leaf margin entire, undulate to serrate; petioles 2–4.5 cm long. Cymes axillary, 1–6-flowered; peduncle c. 4.5 cm long. Bracts linear to linear-lanceolate, subulate, 2–3 mm long, minute; pedicels 1–1.5 cm long. Sepals ovate to lanceolate, 7–9 × 4–5 mm, acute, apex slightly reflexed; outer sepals pubescent; inner glabrous, apex often bent outward. Corolla 1–1.3 cm across, white or pinkish purple, shallowly lobed; mid-petaline bands pubescent at tips. Stamens 5; filaments 5‒7 mm, glandular pubescent at the base; anther lobes c. 2 mm long.Ovary glabrous; style 8–10 mm, divided 3–4 mm above the base; stigma linear, 2–3 mm long. Capsules globose, 5–7 mm in diam., pale brown, glabrous, 4-seeded. Seeds blackish, 3‒4 mm, sub-trigonous, glabrous, scabridulous.

Flowering & Fruiting: Flowering and fruiting from June to July.

Habitat: Growing along roadside in Nilgiri forests, in association with Ipomoea wightii (Wall.) Choisy , Cestrum aurantiacum Lindl. , Mimosa pudica L.

Distribution: The native range of this species is Eritrea to South Africa, Madagascar, Arabian Peninsula ( POWO, 2024) and now in India ( Fig.3 ).

Specimen examined: INDIA, Tamil Nadu, Gudalur district , 11 0 29’ 18.9’’ N 76 0 31’ 26.8’’ E, 1525 m,

06.07.2023, Sutar & Shimpale PVS01 ( NCK!) .

ETHIOPIA, s.d., Schimper 599 ( K [ K 000097340]

digital image!). SYDNEY, s. d., G. Broadhead & L.

Broadhead s.n. ( NSW [ NSW 603525] digital image!).

Notes: Convolvulus rufescens Choisy , an endemic species is also reported from the Nilgiri Hills of India, but it differs from C. farinosus by having cuneate leaf base, leaf blades strongly dentate, pedicels 8-10 mm long, peduncles 6–8 mm long and filaments glabrous.

Figures

Fig. 1. Convolvulus farinosus L.: a. Flowering twig; b. Flower with Peduncle; c. Leaf; d. Corolla–top view; e. Sepals; f. Stamens; g. Gynoecium; h. Capsule; i & j. Seed.

Fig. 2. Convolvulus farinosus L.: a. Flowering twig; b. Adaxial leaf surface; c. Abaxial leaf surface; d. Flower; e. Sepals; f. Stamens; g. Gynoecium; h. Fruit; i. Seed.

Fig. 3. Map showing collection cite of C. farinosus L. in India