BRASS BUTTONS (Cbtula cordnopifdlia, L.). Flower heads 

 yellow without rays, about ? inch in diameter, solitary on 

 slender peduncles. Leaves linear, lance-shaped, or coarsely 

 toothed on the same plant, and clasping at the base around 

 the stem. An herbaceous, rather succulent perennial, a foot 

 or so high, quite common in marshes and along streams and 

 ditches in California; blooming pretty much the entire year. 



The cheerful rotund flowers of this Cotula are well described 

 by the common name of Brass Buttons. They give a lively 

 sparkle of color to many a wet wayside particularly near the 

 coast. I believe the Spanish-Californians call the plant a 

 little more courteously, Boton de pro, that is "gold button." 

 It is an immigrant to our shores, its native home being South 

 Africa. The foliage is strongly but not unpleasantly scented. 



There is a dainty little Australian cousin of Brass Buttons 

 which has become noticeable in spring along city streets and 

 in lawns in California. Its flower heads are barely | inch in 

 diameter, yellowish white, rising on threadlike peduncles out 

 of the parsley-like foliage of the plant, which spreads close 

 to the ground. It is Cdtula australis, Hook, f . 



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