Weather Prophet

Plants with "intermediate" ray-corolla colors have been treated as hybrids between Dimorphotheca pluvialis and D. sinuata (e.g., N. T. Norlindh 1943).

Annuals, 5–20(–40+) cm. Leaf blades narrowly oblong or oblanceolate to linear, 15–50(–100+) × 3–15(–25+) mm, mar-gins usually dentate to pinnatifid, sometimes entire. Peduncles (3–)5–12+ cm. Phyllaries 6–12+ mm. Ray corolla laminae abaxially white to ochroleucous or yellowish (often marked with blue to purple), adaxially mostly whitish (often blue to purplish at bases and/or apices), 20–30+ mm. Disc florets 30–50+; corollas whitish to yellowish, usually bluish to purplish distally, 4–6 mm (lobe apices acute, terete, or dilated). Ray cypselae 4–6 mm; disc cypselae 6–8 mm. 2n = 18.

Calendula pluvialis Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 921. 1753

Dimorphotheca pluvialis, common names white African daisy, Cape marigold, weather prophet, Cape rain-daisy, ox-eye daisy, Cape daisy or rain daisy, is a plant species native to South Africa and Namibia. It is sparingly naturalized in scattered locations in California.

Dimorphotheca pluvialis is an annual herb up to 40 cm (16 in) tall. It has long, narrow leaves, sometimes entire but sometimes toothed or pinnately lobed. Ray flowers are white to yellowish, sometimes with blue or purple markings. Disc flowers are usually white to yellowish with purple tips.