Cotula lineariloba

Cotula lineariloba belongs to a genus of annual or perennial herbs in the Asteraceae family. Several of the species within this genus lack the ray flowers common to most daisy flowers. This means they have only disc flowers, sometimes referred to as buttons or knoppies in Afrikaans. These often yellow or white button flowers occur at the tips of solitary, erect peduncles.There are also other button-like flowers among the Asteraceae such as some of the oncosiphons and nolletias.

C. lineariloba has a common name of brass buttons that may be given it by American gardeners using the plant and may not be heard in South Africa often. The plant tends to sprawl on open ground, low-growing and branching repeatedly.

It has semi-erect leaves on sturdy petioles. The leaves are oblong, divided or deeply lobed with serrated edges or doubly divided. The flowers are yellow, on slender green peduncles. These were photographed during March in Kirstenbosch.