Family: Asteraceae (Daisy family).
Native of Australia (Common Cotula) and South Africa (Ferny Cotula).
Occurrence: Both are widespread plants, growing in seasonally damp places e.g. mud flats or damp roadside verges.
Identification: The two cotulas are similar in appearance. Both are small plants with deeply divided (fern-like) leaves, and small yellow button daisy flowers that terminate the slender flower stalks.
Ferny Cotula (*Cotula bipinnata).
- the leaves are hairless
- the leaves are divided into linear (narrow) leaflets
- the flower stalks are usually not much longer than the leaves
- it grows to about 20cm high, but usually less than this.
It is an environmental weed.
Common Cotula (Cotula australis)
- is hairy, with thin cottony hairs
- the slender flower stalks are longer than the leaves.
- the leaves are divided into small pointed oval leaves
- it grows to about 10cm high, but may be less than this.
Name. Cotula: a small cup, from the Greek cotyle, referring to the flowers.
Photo 1: Common Cotula, Golden Square.
2: Common Cotula. Castlemaine. 4: Ferny Cotula. Muckleford.
2: Common Cotula. Castlemaine. 4: Ferny Cotula. Muckleford.
Water Buttons (Cotula coronopifolia) is a stouter plant with stem-clasping leaves, and grows in wetter positions.