Chrysocoma coma-aurea

Chrysocoma coma-aurea is a compact, hairless shrublet reaching 50 cm in height. Common names of this plant include shrub goldilocks, yellow buttons, golden cowcud and bitterbush. The scientific name is derived from the Greek word chrysos meaning gold and the Latin words coma meaning the hair of the head and aurum meaning gold respectively. The golden aspect of the plant is thus emphasised by nominal reference in two languages!

The absence of ray florets in this species enhances the appearance of the button-like discs, produced in profusion on erect stalks above the foliage. The discoid or button-like flowerheads grow on erect stalks that emerge from stem tips. Tiny stem leaves are present, alternating up the stems to near the involucres. The lack of ray florets does not preclude Chrysocoma from membership of the Asteraceae or daisy family, merely a special kind of daisy. The fynbos and other parts of South Africa have many Asteraceae plants growing discoid flowerheads lacking rings of surrounding rays.

Observed closely, the florets in the flowerheads are so small and close together, they appear granular in the yellow disc. Flowering happens from before midspring to after midsummer. A multitude of seeds may eventually be distributed from one such head.

The species distribution is fairly restricted in the southwest of the Western Cape, from the Cape Peninsula to Paarl and Caledon. It is often encountered by hikers on Table Mountain.

The habitat is flats and lower slopes. The habitat population is deemed of least concern early in the twenty first century. 

Introduced into Australia long ago, by accident or by somebody ignorant, careless or reckless, the species is now invasive in Western Australia. Even gold may become unloved when appearing in the wrong place; a discovery vital to the education of King Midas in ancient lore (Marais, (Ed.), 2017; Privett and Lutzeyer, 2010; Manning, 2007; Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; Andrew, 2017; iNaturalist; http://redlist.sanbi.org).