Arctotis
Sp. Pl. 2: 922. 1753.
Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 394. 1754.
Taxon | Illustrator ⠉ | |
---|---|---|
Gazania linearis Arctotheca calendula Arctotis stoechadifolia | Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey Yevonn Wilson-Ramsey |
Annuals or perennials [subshrubs], [5–] 10–100 cm (hirsute to arachnose or woolly, sometimes glandular as well). Stems erect [decumbent]. Leaves basal and/or cauline; petiolate or sessile; blades mostly spatulate to oblanceolate, margins entire, sinuate-dentate, or pinnately lobed, abaxial faces tomentose to sparsely arachnose. Involucres hemispheric to campanulate, 10–25 mm diam. Phyllaries in 3–6+ series, distinct, outer linear to oblong, inner ovate to elliptic, margins ± scarious. Receptacles flat, alveolate (pit margins often ciliate), epaleate. Ray-florets pistillate, fertile (staminodes often present); corollas white, cream, yellow, orange, pink, purple, violet, or blue (sometimes dark abaxially), laminae 4-veined, 3-toothed. Disc-florets usually bisexual and fertile, sometimes functionally staminate; corollas yellow or brown to violet or purple. Cypselae ovoid to obovoid, abaxial faces ± rounded, 3–5-ribbed or winged (wings sometimes toothed and inflexed into 2 longitudinal grooves), adaxial faces flattened, apices sometimes forming callous borders, faces (smooth or transversely rugose) glabrous or pilose to sericeous; pappi usually present, persistent, usually of 5–8 ovate to oblong scales in 2 series, sometimes coroniform, sometimes none. x = 9.
Distribution
Introduced; s Africa, cultivated and/or elsewhere
Discussion
Species ca. 60 (2 in the flora).
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
Key
1 | Cypselae ± ovoid, 1.3–1.5 mm, glabrous; pappi 0 or coroniform | Arctotis fastuosa |
1 | Cypselae ± obovoid, 2–3 mm, sericeous (hairs from bases) and tomentulose (on faces); pappi of 5–8 hyaline scales 0.5–4 mm | Arctotis stoechadifolia |