Leaves deltoid-hastate (triangular but with distinct lobes, and the 2 basal lobes run nearly perpendicular to the central axial lobe, like an upside-down T, or sometimes slightly swept back over the petiole like an arrowhead; the 3 lobes are roughly the same length), ~4-13 cm long, dark green or greyish green, glabrous (smooth) to densely tomentose (matted hair covering), rather thick, even fleshy. The basal lobes usually have 2, sometimes 3 teeth at the tips, and are fairly broad. The central lobe is also broad, tapering down to a sharp tip (acuminate or acute) or to a small tip (mucronate). The petiole is about as long as the leaf itself. The inflorescence is a cyme or loose flattish cluster on a peduncle or stalk, ~10-20 cm long, that is axillary (forming at the junction of the main stem and a leaf). There are anywhere from 1 to 5 flowers on the cyme's peduncle, which often hangs below the leaf. There are often 2 small (~6-37 mm long by 4-30 mm wide) leaf-like bracts along the peduncle just under the flowers (so that they often completely hide the sepals). Unlike the main leaves, the bracts are usually lanceolate (much longer than wide, widening toward the base), oblong (longer than wide but with parallel margins running between the tip and the base), or even round in shape. The flowers are bell-like in shape, with 5 sepals (which may be uneven in length) and the corolla is shallowly 5-lobed, unfurling in a twisted pleated pattern. The corolla is white or cream-colored, sometimes tinged with pink. There are 5 stamens and 1 pistil on top of the corolla. Flowers mainly April through July, but it can flower all year. The fruit is a balloon-like sphere, containing 4 seeds. The plant's stems are slender and loosely climbing or sprawling; some individuals have woody bases and stems and these can climb more aggressively, from 1-9 m high. Most individuals, however, are herbaceous perennial vines but weak climbers. Can be drought-deciduous. Usually found in dry, rocky, and coastal locations under 1000 m in elevation, in coastal locations from the Bay Area into Baja and inland in the Central Coast, Transverse, and Peninsular ranges.
Calystegia macrostegia aka Convolvulus macrostegius (Convolvulaceae): California morning glory, island morning glory, woody morning glory, island false bindweed
The development of this key was partially funded through the Geoscience Diversity Enhancement Program (Award #0703798) and through a course of re-assigned time provided by the CSULB Scholarly and Creative Activities Committee. Thanks also to the students in sections of biogeography, introductory physical geography, GDEP, and LSAMP for "test-driving" various editions of this key.