February Photo

Plant Characteristics:  Slender-stemmed annual, branched from base, spreading, 0.3-2 dm. high, sparsely spreading-pubescent; lvs. 1-3 cm. long, 1-2 pinnate into linear lobes, petioled or upper sessile; heads 3-6 mm. diam.; phyllaries brownish at apex, round-oblong, with scarious margins; outer series of fls. female, fertile; disk fls. tubular, 4-toothed, fertile or not; marginal aks. minutely glandular on both surfaces, but glabrous on margins, slightly over 1 mm. long.

Habitat:  Very common troublesome weed about gardens, city lots, etc.  Jan.-May.

Name:  Greek, kotule, a small cup, referring to a hollow at the base of the clasping leaves.  (Munz, Calif. Flora 153).  Australis indicates that the plant is from Australia.

General:  Common in the study area. The specimen photographed was located on the Castaway's bluffs.  (my comments).   About 50 species of wide distribution in S. hemisphere.  (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 153).

Text Ref:  Hickman, Ed. 242; Munz, Calif. Flora 1234; Munz, Flora So. Calif. 152; Roberts 10.

Photo Ref:  Feb 1 85 # 17A,18A.

Identity: by R. De Ruff.  

Computer Ref:  Plant Data 163

Have plant specimen.

Last edit 9/25/02.

                                            February Photo