Calendula officinalis L.

Erect or ascending, annual or short-lived perennial herb, sometimes somewhat woody toward base, (10)–15–50 cm tall. Stems densely clothed in short, erect, glandular hairs, usually becoming glabrous below, much-branched. Basal and lower cauline lvs sparsely to moderately clothed in simple and glandular hairs, ciliate, usually narrow-obovate, sometimes elliptic or ± orbicular, entire, with few minute scattered marginal teeth, or rarely remotely dentate, obtuse to acute and mucronate, apetiolate and long-cuneate, 6–20 × 1.5–5 cm; upper cauline lvs similar to lower but becoming smaller, oblong to lanceolate, broad-based and often ± amplexicaul. Capitula solitary, 35–85 mm diam. Involucral bracts in 2 rows, glandular and ciliate, lanceolate, acuminate, 10–15 mm long, the inner with more conspicuous membranous margins. Ray florets (20)–40–60, in 1-several rows; ligules usually orange, sometimes pale orange or yellow, clearly exceeding bracts, (8)–12–30 mm long; disc florets numerous, usually orange, sometimes pale orange or yellow, rarely brownish black. Achenes glabrous or sparsely hairy, usually of 3 types; outermost achenes strongly incurved, long-beaked, 12–18 mm diam., with small stout spines on back, usually alternating with shorter, short-beaked, broadly 3-winged, tuberculate or smooth-backed achenes; inner achenes enclosed by outer, tuberculate on back, 4–7 mm diam.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: Oct.–May.