About Cotula alpina (Hook.fil.) Hook.fil.
Cotula alpina, commonly called alpine cotula, has flat, hairless, light-green leaves that are pinnately divided nearly to the midrib. The hairless leaves measure 1–3 cm in length and 5–10 mm in width. This species produces a large number of rosettes that sit just above ground level. These are slow-growing plants, and they are often stoloniferous. Cotula alpina can be easily mistaken for Leptinella filicula, a related species in the Asteraceae family that bears similar-looking leaves. Flowering takes place from spring through summer. Each rosette produces a single yellow to cream flower roughly 7 mm in diameter. Flowers form at the top of erect stalks that are usually shorter than the leaves, but lengthen during fruiting. A distinct feature of Cotula alpina is that its flower stalks are hollow. In terms of distribution and habitat, Cotula alpina grows in heath, short herbfield, and tussock grasslands in alpine and sub-alpine areas. It is common in the Central Plateau and Midlands of Tasmania, and also occurs at high altitudes in Victoria and New South Wales. This herb can grow in conditions ranging from full sun to shade, and requires consistently high moisture levels to grow. It tolerates clay, loam, and sandy soil types, but cannot tolerate high levels of phosphorus. It survives exposed environmental conditions including strong winds and low temperatures, such as those experienced during snow and frost events, and it has been documented to be resistant to grazing.
