Cotula alpina

Cotula alpina, also known as the alpine cotula, is a perennial herb in the family Asteraceae. It is a small flowering plant that forms ground covering mats and is well adapted to alpine environments.

Cotula alpina matted foliage

Cotula alpina
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Asterids
Order:	Asterales
Family:	Asteraceae
Genus:	Cotula
Species:	C. alpina
Binomial name
Cotula alpina Hemsl.

Description

Alpine cotula has flat glabrous light-green leaves that are pinnately divided almost to the midrib.^[1][2] It forms a large number of rosettes which lie just above ground level while the leaves are hairless and between 1–3 cm in length and 5–10 mm wide.^[1][2] They are slow growing plants and are often stoloniferous.^[3] It can be easily confused with Leptinella filicula which has similar looking leaves and is also part of the family Asteraceae.^[4] Flowering occurs from spring through to summer.^[2] Each rosette produces a single yellow/cream flower, about 7 mm in diameter.^[3] They are at the top of erect stalks that are generally shorter than the leaves but extend further when fruiting.^[5] A unique characteristic of C. alpina is that the flower-bearing stalks are hollow.^[3]

Cotula alpina foliage including fruiting stalk with achenes.

Distribution and habitat

Cotula alpina is found in heath, short herbfield and tussock grasslands in alpine and sub-alpine areas.^[1] It is common in the Central Plateau and Midlands of Tasmania and can also be found at high altitudes in Victoria and New South Wales.^[2] The herb can survive in shade to full sun and requires high moisture levels for growth.^[3] It can also tolerate clay, loam and sandy soil types and is phosphorus intolerant.^[3] It can survive through exposed environmental conditions including high winds and low temperatures including snow and frosts.^[5] It has been reported to show grazing resistance.^[6]

Seed and germination

Cotula aplina has achenes, which are hard, dry fruit which contain a single seed. As the seed matures, the achenes loosen towards the top and develops a fluffy appearance.^[5] The seeds are 1.5–2 mm long, compressed laterally and germination can occur after 2 to 4 weeks.^[5]