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Southern brassbuttons (Cotula australis)
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Southern brassbuttons, native to Australia, is a low-growing annual broadleaf with branching stems. It has aromatic leaves and buttonlike flower heads and is sometimes confused with lawn burweed. In California it is found in the North, Central, and South Coast to an elevation of about 800 feet (250 m). Southern brassbuttons grows on agricultural land and other disturbed areas, especially in coastal areas.
Habitat
Turf, landscaped areas, gardens, yards, orchards, vineyards, annual crops, and disturbed, unmanaged places.
Seedling
Cotyledons (seed leaves) are long, narrow, and fleshy. The first true leaves are divided into three narrow lobes.
Mature plant
Finely dissected leaves are sparsely covered with short hairs and are arranged alternate to one another along the stem on short stalks. Although confused with southern brassbuttons, lawn burweed leaves are shorter, usually palm shaped, and often have dark to purple stem spots and the flowers are green
Flowers
Flowers bloom from January through May. They are small, pale yellow to white, and cluster into heads atop long stalks. They do not have prominent petals. Leaves of the flowering heads have brown tips.
Fruits
There are two fruit types. One is egg-shaped, broadly winged and stalked. The other is barely winged and virtually stalkless. Both types consist of one flat seed and have glandlike hairs on both sides.
Reproduction
Southern brassbuttons reproduce by seed.
Related or similar plants
- Lawn burweed, Soliva sessilis
- Pineappleweed, Chamomilla suaveolens
- Mexican brassbuttons, Cotula Mexicana
- Lesser swinecress, Lepidium didymum
- Chamomile, Anthemis cotula
More information
- Broadleaf ID illustration
- Calflora’s distribution map
- For agriculture: UC IPM Pest Management Guidelines
