Capeweed [Greek arktos, brown bear, and theke, case, capsule, container, alluding to dense, woolly tomentum of cypselae of some species]

Alison McKenzie Mahoney

Perennials (sometimes flowering first year), (4–)8–20(–30+) cm (usually stoloniferous and/or rhizomatous). Stems decumbent or creeping to ± erect. Leaves basal and cauline; petiolate; blades mostly obovate, margins usually pinnatifid to pinnatisect (often lyrate to runcinate) [entire], abaxial faces ± white-woolly, adaxial sparsely puberulent to arachnose (glabrate). Involucres hemispheric to campanulate, 10–15[–20+] mm diam. Phyllaries in 3–6+ series, distinct, ovate or oblong to linear, unequal, margins ± scarious, apices ± acute to acuminate, abaxial faces glabrous or arachnose. Receptacles flat, alveolate or smooth, epaleate. Ray florets neuter (staminodes sometimes present); corollas adaxially yellow (sometimes drying bluish) or ± bluish, laminae 4-veined, 3-toothed. Disc florets bisexual, fertile; corollas yellow or purplish to brownish. Cypselae ± obovoid or ± prismatic (4-angled), ribs 3–5, faces usually villous or woolly [glabrate]; pappi usually present, persistent, of 7–9+ scales (borne within callous borders crowning cypselae) [sometimes none]. x = 9.

Species 4 (1 in the flora): introduced; South Africa, Mozambique.

Lower Taxon

• Arctotheca calendula (Linnaeus) Levyns