Convolvulus multifidus Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap. 35. 1794. (Thunberg 1794: 35).

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 : 73

30. Convolvulus multifidus Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap. 35. 1794. (Thunberg 1794: 35).

Type.

SOUTH AFRICA, Eastern Cape, Thunberg s.n. (holotype UPS!).

Description.

Perennial herb similar in facies to Convolvulus boedeckerianus , densely villous to tomentose in all vegetative parts; rootstock a thickened, woody taproot; stems 15-75 cm long, prostrate. Leaves 0.5-2.5 × 0.5-1 cm, palmately lobed with the central lobe pinnatisect, more or less ovate in outline with weakly cordate base; petioles 3-8 mm. Flowers solitary, axillary, pedunculate; peduncles 0-8 mm, pedicels 8-15 mm; bracts linear 2-7 × 0.5 mm; outer sepals 6.5-9 × 5-mm, broadly elliptic, acute, villous, somewhat glabrescent towards the margins; corolla 10-13 mm, pale pink or white, deeply lobed, midpetaline bands pubescent with brownish hairs; ovary glabrous; style glabrous, stigmas 3.5-4 mm, linear. Capsule glabrous; seeds glabrous, smooth except for muricate angles. [ Meeuse 1958: 675; Meeuse and Welman 2000: 43 (map)]

Distribution.

South Africa, almost endemic to the Cape (Burchell 1839, Acocks 21861, Baur 1020).

Notes.

Distinguished from Convolvulus boedeckerianus by the larger calyx and (usually) pedunculate flowers.