Convolvulus fatmensis Kunze, Flora 23(1): 172. 1840. (Kunze 1840: 172).

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 : 53

7. Convolvulus fatmensis Kunze, Flora 23(1): 172. 1840. (Kunze 1840: 172). Figure 3, t. 40-48.

Convolvulus amblycalyx Steud., Nomencl. Bot., ed.2 1: 407. 1840, illegitimate superfluous name for Convolvulus fatmensis Kunze ( Steudel 1840: 407).

Type.

SAUDI ARABIA, Wadi Fatma, G. W.Schimper 839 (lectotype LZ, designated by Sa’ad 1967: 226); isolectotypes GOET, HBG, JE, L, LE!, OXF!, P!, W!).

Description.

Perennial (possibly sometimes annual) herb with trailing stems to at least 50 cm from a slender central tap root; stems glabrescent to pubescent. Leaves petiolate, 1.2-4.5 × 0.6-4 cm, ovate-deltoid, apex obtuse, margin sinuate, base auriculate and cordate; petioles 0.5-3.5 cm. Flowers 1(-3) borne on axillary peduncles; peduncles 7-30 mm, commonly recurved in fruit; bracteoles 2 mm, filiform; pedicels 3-5 mm; outer sepals 3-5 × 3-4 mm, obovate, rounded, glabrous, slightly concave; inner sepals slightly narrower, 2.5-3 mm wide; corolla 0.9-1.3 cm long, pink, distinctly lobed, midpetaline bands brownish, thinly pubescent; filaments glandular below; ovary glabrous; style glabrous, divided c. 2 mm above base, stigmas 1 mm. Capsule glabrous, strongly exserted from the sepals, recurved in fruit; seeds glabrous, smooth (not rugulose as stated by Sa’ad,1967: 226). [ Sa’ad 1967: 226; Feinbrun-Dothan 1978 (plate 67); Collenette 1999: 229 (photo)]

Distribution.

A widespread Sahara-Sindian species, generally uncommon and very scattered in occurrence but most frequent in Egypt; usually a weed of sandy fields. “Mauretania” (Chudeau s.n. [10/2/1911]); Morocco (Maire 781); Algeria: Ahaggar (Maire 857); Tunisia (Cosson s.n. [22/5/1858]); Libya (Guichard KG/LIB/121); Egypt (Abd El Ghani 5994, Kralik 168); Sudan (El Din 1, Colston 257); Saudi Arabia (Collenette 1753, 7903; Fischer 20, Mandaville 2884); Yemen (Wood 2059); Oman (Radcliffe-Smith 4133); Palestine/Israel (fide Feinbrun-Dothan 1978: 42); Lebanon (?); Iran (Popov 51/11).

Notes.

Very distinct species with sinuate leaves and pink, lobed corolla borne on a recurved peduncle. The leaves are sometimes exceptionally small.