PLATE 108.—COTULA PYRETHRIFOLIA. 
Famity COMPOSIT/. | [Genus COTULA, Tourn. 
Cotula pyrethrifolia, Hook. . Handb. N.Z. Fl. 142; Cheesem. Man. N.Z. Fl. 357. 
Cotula pyrethrifoia is a very different species to the one figured in 
Plate 106. The almost glabrous habit, the decumbent or prostrate stems, the 
deeply pinnatifid leaves with their few linear lobes, and the large strictly 
unisexual heads, mark it off from all the other species. Its only near ally is my 
C. linearifolia, which also has unisexual heads together with a very similar 
habit, but which differs in the much smaller size and entire leaves. All the 
other species of the section with unisexual heads have very different foliage 
and ebracteate scapes. 
C. pyrethrifolia was originally discovered by Dr. Sinclair and Sir Julius von 
Haast in the Rangitata Valley; but was quickly found to have an extensive 
distribution in mountain districts in the South Island, both on the eastern 
and western sides of the watershed. I have seen specimens from almost all 
the important mountain districts, from the Mount Arthur Range, in north-west 
Nelson, and Mount Stokes, in northern Marlborough, to Lake Wanaka, which 
is the most southern locality of which I have any knowledge. Quite lately 
it has been gathered by Mr. Petrie and Mr. Aston on Mount Hector, one of 
the higher peaks of the Tararua Range, in the North Island. It is most 
plentiful at an altitude of from 3,000 ft. to 4,000 ft., but I have observed it 
at fully 6,000 ft. at the Wairau Gorge, and it descends to 2,500 ft., or perhaps 
lower, in eastern Canterbury. 
C. pyrethrifolia is usually found in sheltered places among rocks, or on 
rocky slopes, when these are moderately stable. The finest specimens I have 
ever seen were gathered by Mr. J. Adams and myself in the deep rocky 
gorge just below the terminal face of the Waimakariri Glacier, at an altitude 
of about 3,500 ft., where it was remarkably plentiful. Like many species of 
the genus, it is highly aromatic, especially when bruised. 
Puate 108. Cotula pyrethrifolia, drawn from specimens collected by the Broken River, Canter- 
bury, at an altitude of 3,500 ft. Fig. 1, section of receptacle, with the involucral bracts surrounding 
it (x 4); 2, flower-head (x 4); 3, female floret (x 10); 4, anthers from the same (x 15); 5, style- 
branches from the same (x 15); 6 and 7, inner or sterile florets (x 10); 8, ripe achene, with the 
corolla still attached (x 8). 
