| Synonyms: |
Anacyclus australis Spreng. Cotula villosa DC. |
| Common names: | Annual buttonweed (English) |
| Frequency: | |
| Status: | Introduced |
| Description: |
Annual, prostrate or ascending, herb, to 25 cm. Leaves 2-pinnatifid, oblanceolate in outline, thinly pubescent; base semi-amplexicaul. Capitula solitary, terminal, ± flattened, borne on a long peduncle, 1.5-7.5 cm long. Phyllaries elliptic, with scarious margins, borne in 2 rows. Outer florets lacking a corolla; inner florets white or yellow-green; all florets stalked. Achenes dimorphic; those of outer florets elliptic, winged; those of inner florets obovoid, not winged. |
| Type location: |
Tasmania, Australia |
| Notes: | Very likely more widespread but under recorded in Malawi. |
| Derivation of specific name: | australis: southern |
| Habitat: | A weed of gardens and lawns, usually close to human habitation. |
| Altitude range: (metres) | Up to 2350 m |
| Flowering time: | Apr - Sep |
| Worldwide distribution: | Native of New Zealand and Australia; now widespread as a weed in the warmer parts of the Old and New Worlds |
| FZ divisions: | N(other?) |
| Growth form(s): | |
| Endemic status: | |
| Red data list status: | |
| Insects associated with this species: | |
| Spot characters: | Display spot characters for this species |
| Images last updated: | Friday 28 September 2018 |
| Literature: |
Beentje, H.J. (ed.) (2002). Compositae (Part 2) Flora of Tropical East Africa Pages 525 - 526. Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 24. |