Calendula arvensis L.

Erect or sprawling annual herb, up to c. 30 cm tall. Stems densely clothed in short, erect, eglandular and glandular hairs, less hairy below, much-branched. Basal and lower cauline lvs moderately to densely clothed in simple and glandular hairs, ciliate, obovate to obovate-oblong, with few scattered marginal teeth, acute and mucronate, apetiolate and slightly cuneate, 2-8 × 0.5-1.5 cm; upper cauline lvs similar to lower but becoming smaller, oblong, lanceolate, or narrowly ovate-triangular, broad-based and often ± amplexicaul. Capitula solitary, 10-15 mm diam. Involucral bracts in 2 rows, hairy, glandular and ciliate, narrowly ovate-to oblong-triangular, acuminate, 6-9 mm long, the inner with more conspicuous membranous margins. Ray florets c. 11-22, in 1-2 rows; ligules yellow or orange, ± = or not greatly exceeding bracts, c. 5-10 mm long. Disc florets few, yellow or orange. Achenes glabrous to moderately hairy, usually of 3 types; outermost achenes incurved, short-beaked, 7-10 mm long, with small stout spines on back; some outer achenes slightly shorter, scarcely beaked, broadly 2-3-winged and usually tuberculate on back; inner achenes enclosed by outer, ridged or tuberculate on back, 2-4 mm diam.

It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 6-10. In Bahrain it grows in gravelly soils. Tasmania Herbarium.

The young shoots and leaves are boiled and eaten. They are also used in stews. The flower heads are pickled. The leaves are used as a condiment for clarified butter.

Can be grown by seedlings.