Calendula suffruticosa, Vahl

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 206

1. C. suffruticosa Vahl , Symb. Bot. 2: 94 (1791).

Perennial 20-50 cm or more, usually woody for some distance above base. Leaves (l-5-)2-5-7(-12) x (O-3-)O-8-3(-4) cm. Ligules often 2 cm, usually more than twice as long as involucral bracts, yellow or orange; tubular florets more or less concolorous with ligules. Capitula in fruit with an outer row of patent (occasionally deflexed) or weakly incurved, narrowly beaked achenes up to 3 cm, alternating with much shorter cymbiform (rarely 3-winged) achenes. Rock-crevices, maritime sands and other dry habitats, usually near the coast. Mediterranean region, Portugal. Gr Hs It Lu Si Tu.

An extremely variable species which includes the following subspecies; these are frequently treated as species, but they are connected by numerous intermediates.

1 Stems procumbent to decumbent; leaves usually rather fleshy

2 Capitula 3-5 cm in diameter; leaves densely and conspicuously glandular-pubescent (e) subsp. maritima 2 Capitula 2-3-5 cm in diameter; leaves minutely but ± densely glandular-pubescent (f) subsp. algarbiensis 1 Stems erect or diffuse; leaves not fleshy

3 Leaves and stems whitish-floccose-tomentose

(d) subsp. tomentosa 3 Leaves and stems pubescent, green

4 Flowering stems simple or sparingly branched; peduncles often long and naked or with a few small, subulate bracts; leaves narrowly oblong-lanceolate, usually acute, often conspicuously repand-dentate (a) subsp. suffruticosa 4 Flowering stems usually much-branched; peduncles rather short, with well-developed, leaf-like bracts; leaves often broadly oblanceolate or spathulate, obtuse, often subentire or obscurely toothed

5 Ligules yellow, about twice as long as involucral bracts

(b) subsp. lusitanica 5 Ligules orange, usually more than twice as long as involucral bracts (c) subsp. fulgida