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Capeweed
Scientific Name: Arctotheca calendula
Family: Asteraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Capeweed (Arctotheca calendula)
Arctotheca calendula, commonly known as capeweed, is a widespread plant belonging to the sunflower family (Asteraceae). Other common names include plain treasureflower, cape dandelion, cape marigold, and sometimes incorrectly, cape daisy.
Considerations for Pets
- Capeweed has been reported to be toxic to cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses. It may cause nitrate and nitrite poisoning.
- Consumption of large quantities of capeweed by horses may lead to magnesium deficiency.
- Tainting of milk has also been reported.
Considerations for Children
- Capeweed can sometimes cause nitrate poisoning.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Arctotheca calendula (L.) Levyns
- Family: Asteraceae (daisy family)
- Synonyms/Alternative Names: Cape daisy, Cape dandelion, Cape marigold, Cape weed, marigold, plain treasure flower, silverspreader, South African Capeweed, California dandelion.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to South Africa.
- Naturalized in various regions, including Western Australia and New Zealand.
- Spreading into new areas in some parts of New Zealand.
- Prefers fertile sandy loam soils but grows in a variety of soils.
Ecological Role
- Considered a major and noxious weed in many regions.
- A competitive plant that can significantly reduce crop yields (e.g., wheat crops in Western Australia).
- Identified as a priority weed for the southern region.
Morphological Characteristics
- Annual or perennial evergreen herb.
- Forms a low-growing rosette, typically stemless.
- Individual plants can reach up to 80 cm wide and 30 cm high.
- Leaves are broad, deeply lobed, and succulent, ranging from 30-250 mm long.
- The upper surface of the leaves can be hairless to hairy, while the underside is often covered with woolly down or has a silvery-white color.
- Flowers are yellow and daisy-like.
- Autumn/winter germinating.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Competes with other pasture species like subterranean clover.
- Affected by pests like black-headed cockchafer, red-headed cockchafer, red-legged earth mite, and lucerne flea.
- Can be found in pastures alongside erodium (corkscrew, long storksbill, and geranium).
Quirky Facts
- The name *Arctotheca* is derived from the Greek word *arktos*, meaning bear, and *theke*, meaning a case or covering.
Control and Management
- Control methods include direct drilling of new pasture seed after spraying.
- Herbicide application (e.g., Roundup Weedkiller) is commonly used.
- Eradication efforts focus on preventing the seed cycle.
- Avoid spreading seeds when Capeweed is just starting to establish in lawns.