Evolvulus arizonicus A. Gray
Family: Convolvulaceae
wild dwarf morning-glory,  more...
[Evolvulus arizonicus var. arizonicus ,  more...]
Evolvulus arizonicus image

Plant: Perennial herb; densely appressed-pilose to almost woolly tomentose throughout; stems few to many, arising from woody base, erect to ascending or decumbent, 10-30(-45) cm tall

Leaves: lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 10-25(-35) mm long, 2.5-6(-14) mm wide, gradually decreasing in size toward apex, the upper leaves linear, acute or obtuse apically, attenuate basally; petioles absent or short

INFLORESCENCE: 1-3-flowered cymes, on slender peduncles usually as long as or longer than the leaves

Flowers: on pedicels 3-4(-8) mm long, reflexed in fruit; bracteoles linear-subulate, 1.5-3 mm long; sepals equal, lanceolate, acuminate, 3-3.5 mm long; corollas blue or blue with white stripes, rotate to broadly campanulate, (10-)12-22 mm wide; filaments inserted near base, 1.5-2 times as long as the linear anthers; ovary glabrous

Fruit: FRUITS globose, 3.5-4 mm long. SEEDS 2-4, 1-1.25 mm long, tan to brown, glabrous

Misc: Disturbed sites, often rocky; 900-1850 m (2900-6000 ft); Apr-Oct

Notes: Corolla rotate and light blue in color.

References: Austin, Daniel F. 1998. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Convolvulaceae 30(2): 61. Kearney & Peebles; Arizona Flora. McDougall; Seed plants of Northern Arizona. ASU specimans

Austin 1998

Duration: Perennial

Nativity: Native

Lifeform: Forb/Herb

General: Suffrutescent herbs, densely appressed-pilose to almost woolly tomentose throughout; few to many stems from a woody base, erect to ascending or decumbent, 10-30 cm tall.

Leaves: Lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, 10-25 mm long, 2.5-6 mm wide, gradually decreasing in size toward apex, the upper leaves linear, acute or obtuse apically, attenuate basally, petioles absent or short.

Flowers: 1-3 flowered cymes on slender peduncles as long as or longer than leaves; flowers on pedicels 3-4 mm long, reflexed in fruit, bracteoles linear-subulate, 1.5-3 mm long; sepals equal, lanceolate, acuminate, 3-3.5 mm long, corollas blue or blue with white stripes, rotate to broadly campanulate, 12-22 mm wide, filaments inserted near base, 1.5-2 times as long as the linear anthers; glabrous ovary.

Fruits: Globose fruit, 3.5-4 mm long.

Ecology: Found in disturbed, often rocky sites; 3,000-6,000 ft (914-1829 m); flowers April-October.

Distribution: AZ, NM; south to n MEX.

Notes: Our Evolvulus species are often low-growing, have alternate, usually linear to ovate, entire leaves; blue, white or purple flowers often the shape shallow bells or funnels (salverform, rotate, funnelform) that arise from axils; and capsules. E. arizonicus is a perennial with many branching stems (not as nest-like as alsinoides); dense, long, appressed silver hairs all over; stems below flowers (peduncles) which are longer than subtending leaves (shorter to absent in nuttalianus and sericeus) blue flowers 12-20 mm wide, obviously larger than E. alsinoides (5-10mm).

Ethnobotany: Unknown

Etymology: Evolvulus comes from the Latin evolvo, meaning to unroll, while arizonicus refers to being from Arizona.

Synonyms: Evolvulus arizonicus var. laetus, Evolvulus laetus

Editor: SBuckley 2010, FSCoburn 2015