Botanical art
Etymology
Convolvulus the Latin name of some bindweed, from 'convolvere' meaning to roll together or entwine. Angustissimus from the Latin 'angust' meaning narrow and the suffix 'issimus' meaning to the greatest degree; possibly referring to the shape of the leaves in the type form.
Distribution and status
Found on the Eyre Peninsula, Mount Lofty Ranges and the South-east in South Australia, growing in grassland and grassy woodland. Also found in all states except for the Northern Territory. Native. Common in South Australia. Common in the other states.
Herbarium regions: Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South Eastern, Green Adelaide
NRM regions: Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern and Yorke, South Australian Murray-Darling Basin, South East
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)
Plant description
Trailing and twining herb with very variable leaf shape. Basal leaves ovate to oblong, soon becoming lobed. Lower stem leaves deeply lobed at base, basal pair of lobes linear to obovate, lateral to recurved, often with a recurved secondary lobe from the lower margin; ascending and terminal lobes distinct, linear, upper leaves with very narrow lobes; terminal lobe < 1.5 mm wide. Inflorescence with 1 rarely 2 white funnel-shaped flowers; pedicel to 8 mm long, drooping at fruiting, outer sepals moderately to sparsely hairy with appressed, ascending to spreading hairs. Flowering between November and February. Fruits are brown globular capsule to 7.5 mm diameter. Seed embryo type is folded.
Seed collection and propagation
Collect seeds between January and April. Collect capsules that are maturing, turning brown and contain hard seeds inside. Capsules can be opened or unopened and some seed can be collected from the ground under the plant. Place the capsules in a tray and leave to dry for one to two weeks. Then rub the capsules gently by hand or with a rubber bung to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate the unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. This species has physical dormancy that needs to be overcome for the seed to germinate (e.g. nicking the seed coat).