Capeweed - introduced (Arctotheca calendula)

Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family).
Native of South Africa.

Occurrence: A widespread and common environmental weed and a weed of of roadsides, farmland and cultivated areas. It may be locally abundant.

Identification:

• the yellow petals surround a blackish centre
• it is a stemless plant with semi-succulent, deeply lobed leaves
• the undersurface of the leaves are covered with fine, white wool
• the petals are a deeper yellow towards the centre
• the flowers are in short stalks.

Notes: Capeweed is an annual. It grows vigorously in late winter-early spring, when the leaves may smother other vegetation. It dies down in early summer.

Right: Capeweed, Castlemaine.
Below 2: Upper and lower leaf surface.
Below 3: The leaves form a rosette.
Below 4: Capeweed. Castlemaine.
Bottom: Dense Capeweed. Bridgewater Rd, Maldon.