Flower:

 Flowers are 1 to 2 inches across, 8 oval yellow ray flowers (petals) with a point or notch at the tip, and a dull orange center. The petals may not all be the same length and occasionally are absent altogether. Each flower is at the end of a stalk that arises from a leaf axil. One plant has a few to many flowers.

The outer bracts are long and narrow, green and curly, and unequal lengths. The inner bracts are pale yellow to green, almond-shaped, about as wide as the petals, tapering to a blunt point.

Leaves and stem:

 Leaves are narrow, up to 6 inches long and 1 inch wide, tapering to a pointed tip, hairless, with toothed edges and no leaf stalk, clasping the stem. Attachment is opposite, the bases of the leaf pairs nearly joined around the stem. Stems are hairless or sparsely hairy and may be green or reddish purple.

Fruit:

The flower head nods down as it ages (and is where it gets its common name) so the seed head points down.

Seeds are hard and dark brown, 4-angled with downward pointing hairs along the angles and 4 barbed awns that attach the seed to anything that brushes against it (like my clothes).

Notes:

Nodding Bur Marigold is commonly found on the banks of ponds and lakes in late summer and early fall. It may form large colonies, but is often scattered.