Cotula laxa bud with star

Before the Cotula laxa flowerhead opens, this tiny star-shape is visible on the flat top of the bud, formed by the tips of the involucral bracts.

The delicate, thread-like leaves are borne low on the plant, the peduncles of the flowers exceeding them in height by far. On the young bud the stalk is still short (Vlok and Schutte-Vlok, 2010; Le Roux, et al, 2005; iNaturalist).