Citation: Levyns, Jl S. Afr. Bot. 8:284 (1942).

Synonymy: Arctotis calendula L., Sp. Pl. 2:922 (1753); Cryptostemma calendula (L.)Druce, Rep. Botl Soc. Exch. Club Br. Isl. 1913:416 (1914); A. calendulacea L., Syst. Nat. edn 12, 2:578 (1767); C calendulaceum (L.)R. Br. in Aiton, Hort. Kew. edn 2, 5:141 (1813). , Cryptostemma calendulaceum

Common name: Capeweed.

Description:
Soft juicy annual herb to 30 cm high; stems absent or short and prostrate, ribbed, with sparse tomentum and purplish glandular hairs; leaves mostly basal, oblanceolate, lyrate-pinnatisect with 2-7 pairs of lobes, 5-25 cm long, 2-6cm wide, green and pubescent or subglabrous above, white-tomentose below; margins more or less dentate.

Peduncles erect, axillary, 8-25 cm long, with sparse tomentum and glandular hairs; capitula solitary, 2.5-5 cm diam.; involucre hemispherical, 5-10 mm long; bracts 4- or 5-seriate, broadly lanceolate, green, the lower ones with spreading ciliate acuminate apices, the upper series longer, obtuse with scarious margins; ray florets 15-20; ligules 12-25 mm long, yellow above, grey-green below; disk florets numerous, black.

Achenes oblong, c. 2 mm long, enveloped in pinkish-brown wool; pappus of 6-8 minute lanceolate scales.

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 680.

Distribution:  Very common weed of cultivation, pastures and waste land, especially on poorer soils. S.Aust.: NW, LE, NU, FR, EP, NL, MU, YP, SL, KI, SE.   W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.; Tas. Conservation status: naturalised Flowering time: Aug. — Oct.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available