Arctotheca

J. C. Wendland

Bot. Beob., 41. 1798.

,

Hort. Herrenhus. 1: 8, plate 6. 1798.

Common names: Capeweed
Etymology: Greek arktos, brown bear, and theke, case, capsule, container, alluding to dense, woolly tomentum of cypselae of some species
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 19. Treatment on page 197. Mentioned on page 48, 195.

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.

Distribution

Introduced; South Africa, Mozambique.

Discussion

Species 4 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

... more about "Arctotheca"
Alison McKenzie Mahoney +
J. C. Wendland +
Capeweed +
South Africa +  and Mozambique. +
Greek arktos, brown bear, and theke, case, capsule, container, alluding to dense, woolly tomentum of cypselae of some species +
Bot. Beob., +  and Hort. Herrenhus. +
Compositae +
Arctotheca +
Asteraceae tribe Arctotideae +