Convolvulus spicifolius Desrousseaux.

Herbs perennial, with thick rhizomes, 3-20(-40) cm tall. Stems several, prostrate or ascending; branches densely silvery or golden sericeous. Apical leaves sessile, basal leaves petiolate; leaf blade oblanceolate to oblong-oblanceolate, 4-6 X 0.5-2.5 cm, ± shiny silvery or golden sericeous, base gradually attenuate, decurrent, apex acute or obtuse. Flowers (1-)3 or 4 (or 5), axillary or subterminal. Sepals unequal, 6-12 mm, ± densely sericeous, base convex, apex flat, reflexed; outer 2 oblong to lanceolate-linear; inner ones wider, apex acuminate. Corolla rose or white, funnelform, 1.5-2.5 cm, midpetaline bands densely yellowish sericeous. Stamens included, unequal; filaments glabrous; anthers oblong-sagittate. Disc ringlike, glabrous. Ovary pubescent. Stigmas linear. Capsule oblong-ovoid, ± appressed pubescent. Seeds blackish, ca. 3 mm, short pubescent. Fl. Apr-Aug, fr. Jul-Aug. 2n = 30.

Sa'ad (l.c. pp. 128-130) recognized two varieties of Convolvulus lineatus. The Chinese specimens are referable to the type variety.

Waste areas, fields, roadsides, sandy hills, bare stony soils, sometimes in saline meadows, semi-desert steppes, dry steppes, rocky deserts; 300-1300 m. Xinjiang [Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan; N Africa, SW Asia, E and S Europe]