Convolvulus glomeratus var. sachalitarum R.R.Mill ex J.R.I.Wood & R.W.Scotland, 2015

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 : 128

102b. Convolvulus glomeratus var. sachalitarum R.R.Mill ex J.R.I.Wood & R.W.Scotland var. nov.

Diagnosis.

A subsp. typo corolla 15-20 mm longa (non <12 mm longa) et usque 2.5 cm diametro dignoscenda.

Type.

OMAN, Dhofar, Cliff near Dalkut, McLeish 2813 (holotype E00132890!).

Distinguishing features.

The key feature of this variety is the very large corolla 1.5-2 cm long when dry and up to 2.5 cm in diameter when living. The leaves are always relatively large, up to 4 × 2.5 cm, the peduncles long and commonly gently curved, reaching 7 cm in length, and the sepals may reach 12 mm. However, all characters apart from the corolla size can be matched in other populations of Convolvulus glomeratus and as the corolla size is hardly constant, varietal status seems appropriate.

Distribution.

Oman (Dhofar): McLeish 697, 2248, 2415, 2661, 2814; Ash 126; Collenette 8347; Miller 2262, 2331, 2356; Miller & Whitcombe 2082.

Notes.

There has been some uncertainty about the correct name for this species. Convolvulus glomeratus Thunb. is a nomen nudum so the combination Convolvulus auricomus is unnecessary. Convolvulus arabicus Hochst. & Steud. also appears to be a nomen nudum, so Convolvulus glomeratus remains the accepted name. Convolvulus zargarianus is a synonym of Convolvulus glomeratus . Although Sa’ad describes the ovary as velutinous and the style as hairy and shows this in her illustration, this is an error.