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This species is accepted, and its native range is Socotra.
A specimen from Kew's Herbarium

[KBu]

Demissew, S. & Mill, R.R. (2009). Revision of the genus Seddera (Convolvulaceae). Kew Bulletin 64: 197. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-009-9112-8

Conservation
Vulnerable. Rare with a very limited area of occupancy.
Distribution
Endemic to Yemen; known only from the island of Soqotra.
Ecology
Sandy ground; sea level – 30 m.
Morphology General Habit
Shrub to 60 cm high and 60 – 90 cm (or more) in diameter
Morphology General Indumentum
Young branches and leaves silvery white, pubescent; older parts brown, glabrescent with few hairs, persisting
Morphology Leaves
Leaf blades linear-lanceolate, 2 – 6 × 0.3 – 1.1 (– 2) mm, acute at the apex, shortly cuneate at the base Leaves sessile
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers axillary, solitary; peduncles and pedicels absent; bracts leaf-like, 2 – 3 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens 5, ± equal, widened towards the base and with glandular hairs, 4 – 5 mm long; anthers 0.8 – 1.5 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Calyx tubular-ellipsoid, 3.5 – 5.5 mm, constricted at the mouth; apical part of lobes c. 0.5 mm, flared outwards Sepals unequal, ovate to ovate-elliptic, concave, overlapping, 5 – 7 × 2 – 3 mm, inner ones ± glabrous, outer ones pubescent, acute at the apex
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla
Corolla white, 5.5 – 7 mm long, pilose on exserted portion only of tube and on mid-petaline areas
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary glabrous, enveloped by a disc; style apparently simple but readily separable into 2 halves, 4 mm long, just exserted from the corolla tube, with ± obovoid stigma lobes 0.8 – 1 mm long
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Capsule included within calyx, c. 3 mm; seeds not seen.
Note
This species, we believe, is closer to the genus Convolvulus than to Seddera, although Verdcourt (1971) argued against this. He described the stigma as ± globose, but the stigmas we observed were linear-oblong. Thus, the apparently simple style with linear-oblong stigma (although slightly broader than other species) will keep the species closer to Convolvulus than to Seddera. Verdcourt indicated that the simple style can be separated into two halves down to the apex of the ovary and we have confirmed this by dissection. Verdcourt keeps this species in Sect. Socotroseddera Verdc. along with S. spinosa. The ovary is glabrous and is enclosed within a disk.
Phenology
Flowering time: February to April; August and September.
Type
Soqotra, on the plains, Feb. – March 1880, Balfour, Cockburn & Scott 73 (lectotype K, selected here by Sebsebe Demissew).

[KBu]
Use
The species is a very nutritious source of goat fodder and increases their milk yield; it also makes the milk sweet (Miller & Morris 2004).

Native to:

Socotra

Convolvulus socotranus Verdc. appears in other Kew resources:

Date Reference Identified As Barcode Type Status
Jan 1, 1997 unknown [273], Socotra Seddera fastigiata K000405903 syntype
Jan 1, 1997 Bent [s.n.], Socotra Seddera fastigiata K000405905
Jan 1, 1997 Schweinfurth, G. [249], Socotra Seddera fastigiata K000405904
Jul 1, 1969 unknown [73], Socotra Seddera fastigiata K000405906 syntype

First published in Kew Bull. 12: 344 (1957)

Accepted by

  • Govaerts, R. (1999). World Checklist of Seed Plants 3(1, 2a & 2b): 1-1532. MIM, Deurne.
  • Luna, J.A., Sebsebe Demissew, Darbyshire, I., & M.A. Carine (2013). The significance of one style versus two styles: the return of Seddera section Socotroseddera to Convolvulus Phytotaxa 156(1): 47-53.
  • Myint, T. & D.B. Ward (1968). A taxonomic revision of the genus Bonamia (Convolvulaceae) Phytologia 17: 121-239.
  • Verdcourt, B. (1957). Notes on East African Convolvulaceae (part I) Kew Bulletin 12: 334-347.
  • Wood, J.R.I., Williams, B.R.M., Mitchell, T.C., Carine, M.A., Harris, D.J. & Scotland, R.W. (2015). A foundation monograph of Convolvulus (Convolvulaceae) PhytoKeys 51: 1-282.

Not accepted by

  • Al Khulaidi, A.W.A. in Al Khulaidi, A.W.A. (2012). Fl. Yemen Convolvulaceae + Cuscutaceae Flora of Yemen: 73-76 + 80. EPA and UNDP, Republic of Yemen. [Cited as Seddera fastigiata.]
  • Miller, A.G. & M. Morris in Miller, A.G. & M. Morris (2004). Ethnofl. Soqotra Archipel. Convolvulaceae + Cuscutaceae Ethnoflora of the Soqotra Archipelago: 516-524. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. [Cited as Seddera fastigiata.]
  • Sebsebe Demissew & R.R. Mill (2009). Revision of the genus Seddera (Convolvulaceae) Kew Bulletin 64: 197-233. [Cited as Seddera fastigiata.]
  • Walter, K.S. & Gillett, H.J. (1998). 1997 IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants: 1-865. IUCN. [Cited as Seddera fastigiata.]

Literature

Kew Backbone Distributions

  • Sebsebe Demissew & R.R. Mill (2009). Revision of the genus Seddera (Convolvulaceae) Kew Bulletin 64: 197-233.

Herbarium Catalogue Specimens
Digital Image © Board of Trustees, RBG Kew http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Kew Backbone Distributions
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2021. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

Kew Bulletin
Kew Bulletin
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone
The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families 2021. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/
© Copyright 2017 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0