Classification
Class
Magnoliopsida Brongn.
Order
Asterales Link
Family
Compositae Giseke
Genus
Cotula L.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Cotula australis (Spreng.) Hook.f., Bot. Antarct. Voy. II. (Fl. Nov.-Zel.) Part I, 128 (1853)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Anacyclus australis Spreng., Syst. Veg., ed. 16 [Sprengel] 3, 497 (1826)
  • ≡ Strongylosperma australe (Spreng.) Less., Syn. Gen. Compos. 261 (1832)
  • = Cotula venosa Colenso, Trans. & Proc. New Zealand Inst. 23: 388 (1890 [1891])
Vernacular Name(s):
Common cotula; Soldier's button
 Description

Ascending to erect, slender annual up to 10–(15) cm tall. Stems terete, much-branched from base and above, sparsely to densely clothed in long hairs, up to 20–(40) cm long, not rooting at nodes. Lvs membranous, sparsely to moderately hairy, spathulate, deeply 1–2-pinnatisect, (5)–10–35–(50) mm long; lowermost lvs opposite, petiolate, amplexicaul; lvs above becoming alternate, smaller, apetiolate, and 1-pinnatisect. Involucral bracts in 2 rows, glabrous or with a few scattered hairs, 2–3 mm long. Capitula solitary, pale yellow, 3–5–(6) mm diam.; peduncle sparsely to densely clothed in antrorse hairs, very slightly expanded at apex but solid, (1)–3–6 cm long, 0.5–1 mm diam.; ♀ florets in 2–3 rows, pedicellate, lacking any corolla; ☿ florets (15)–30–40–(50), subsessile, with tubular corolla. Achenes of ♀ florets flattened, 1.2–1.5 × 0.7–1 mm, hairy on both surfaces; lateral angles with thin, glabrous, entire, marginal wings. Achenes of ☿ florets flattened on inner surface, c. 0.9–1.1 × 0.4–0.5 mm, glabrous; lateral angles thinly ribbed.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Phenology

Flowering: Jan.–Dec.

 Bibliography
Colenso, W. 1891: A Description of some newly discovered indigenous plants, being a further contribution towards making known the botany of New Zealand. Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 23: 381–391.
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Barkla J.W.; Courtney, S.P.; Champion, P.D.; Perrie, L.R.; Beadel, S.N.; Ford, K.A.; Breitwieser, I.; Schönberger, I.; Hindmarsh-Walls, R.; Heenan, P.B.; Ladley, K. 2018: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017. New Zealand Threat Classification Series. No. 22. [Naturally Uncommon]
de Lange, P.J.; Rolfe, J.R.; Champion, P.D.; Courtney, S.P.; Heenan, P.B.; Barkla, J.W.; Cameron, E.K.; Norton, D.A.; Hitchmough, R.A. 2013: Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012. New Zealand Threat Classification Series 3. Department of Conservation, Wellington. [Not Threatened]
Hooker, J.D. 1852–1853 ("1853"): The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage of H.M. Discovery Ships Erebus and Terror in the Years 1839–1843, under the command of Captain Sir James Clark Ross. II. Flora Novae-Zelandiae. Part I. Flowering plants. Lovell Reeve, London.
Lessing, C. F. 1832: Synopsis Generum Compositarum Earumque Dispositionis Novae Tentamen Monographiis Multarum Capensium Interjectis. Duncker & Humblot, Berlin.
Sprengel, C.P.J. 1826: Systema vegetabilium [Caroli Linnaei ... ]. Editio decima sexta. Vol. 3. Göttingen.