Calendula stellata, Cav.

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 : 207

3. C. stellata Cav. , Icon. Deser. 1: 3 (1791)

( C. algeriensis Boiss. & Reuter ).

Annual (6-)14-40(-50) cm, erect or diffuse, usually much-branched. Leaves l-5-10(-14) x 0-8-3(-4) cm, oblong-lanceolate to narrowly obovate, subglabrous to sparsely arachnoid-floccose, subentire or remotely denticulate. Capitula (2-3-)3-4(-5) cm in diameter. Ligules usually more than twice as long as involucral bracts, golden-yellow or orange, violet at apex. Tubular florets violet-purple or nearly black. Capitula in fruit with an outer row of patent, narrowly beaked achenes 1 - 5-3 cm, or sometimes with rather shorter, broadly winged and coarsely serrate achenes; cymbiform and annular achenes frequently few or none. Cultivated and waste ground. Sicilia. Si. (North Africa.)

C. bicolor Rafin. , Caratteri 82 (1810), with smaller capitula, ligules usually less than twice as long as involucral bracts, thinly arachnoid-floccose leaves and short, narrow, incurved achenes (like those of 4) is very probably a hybrid between 3 and 4. It occurs in S. Spain, Sicilia, Greece and perhaps elsewhere, though many records are referable to variants of 4 with discolorous florets.