Family |
Convolvulaceae
Convolvulus coelesyriacus
Boiss.
Convolvulus coelesyriacus Boiss.
(First published in Diagn. Pl. Orient. ser. 1, 12: 60 (1849); Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2; 1969)
• Life-form & habit : Perennial chamaephyte; stems prostrate to ascending, slender, often forming loose mats, covered with short appressed hairs giving a greyish aspect.
• Leaves : Alternate, shortly petiolate; blades ovate to lanceolate (1–3 cm), entire, often slightly undulate; base rounded to weakly sagittate; surfaces grey-green, finely pubescent.
• Inflorescence & flowers : Axillary, solitary or paired; peduncles short; bracteoles small, situated below the calyx; flowers funnel-shaped, pink to pale rose, 2–3 cm long; sepals ovate, slightly unequal, pubescent.
• Fruit : Capsule ovoid, glabrous or slightly pubescent; seeds few, brown.
• Phenology : Flowers from April to June.
• Habitat & elevation : Dry rocky slopes, steppe habitats and open limestone areas; 800–1800 m.
• Lebanese distribution : Local in the Beqa‘a and Anti-Lebanon regions; scattered.
• Native range : Cyprus, East Aegean Is., Lebanon-Syria, Palestine, Türkiye.
• Diagnostic remarks : Distinguished by its greyish pubescent foliage, relatively small pink flowers and prostrate habit; differs from related species by its narrower leaves and adaptation to steppe environments.