The flowerhead of Arctotheca calendula may have pale or deep yellow rays, sometimes paler or darker in a short section at the base. The oblanceolate ray florets are slightly more in number than can fit into one side-by-side ring around the disc. The ray tips that curve slightly down are minutely three-toothed.

The dark disc has yellow open florets with some long protruding parts visible above the perianth tubes. These may be stamens, but styles are also exserted at times.

The soft, fleshy and hollow peduncle has a covering of dark hairs.

This Namaqualand flowerhead was seen early in August (Manning, 2007).