Yellow button flowers
What are they?
A number of members of the daisy family have flowerheads that consist of apparently petalless, yellow flowers. Some are always like this, others are merely 'petalless' forms of daisy-type flowers - i.e. flowers that consist of a yellow centre with a ring of strap-like petals around the outside, but those petals are missing. The ones you may come across in the East Anglian region are shown here so they can be directly compared with each other.
Where are they found?
This is a loose group of plants that are not immediately related to each other, so habitat types are varied. However, some are wetland species and others are plants of open, grassy areas - noting the habitat could help with identification.
Identification
As the common link between these plants is the yellow, button-like flowerheads, it is important to also look at the leaves and also to note the habitat that the plant is growing in.
If you don't see your plant on this page and it has rather elongated flowerheads with tube or cone-shaped bases, it may be worth checking the groundsels, which you can reach by clicking here.
Pineappleweed Matricaria discoidea
Originally introduced as a weed from mainland Europe, but now abundant and well-established on well-walked tracks, paths and cracks in roads and paving. Flowers more or less throughout the year. Flowerheads pointed at the top like little pineapples, with the whole plant also having a pineapple scent if crushed, especially in warmer weather.
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Common Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile
Once native in East Anglia but considered extinct by the early 1960s. Now may be found rarely as a relic of cultivation. Flowers June to July. The type form of Common Chamomile has white petals surrounding the flowerhead, but the form 'nudum' is rayless and is occasionally grown as a herb or as a 'fragrant lawn' plant and has been recorded from a lawn (where not deliberately introduced) in North Norfolk. A creeping, mat-forming plant with only the flower stalks rising much above the ground.
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Yellow Buttonweed Cotula coronopifolia
Of uncertain origin but probably native to the southern hemisphere. A recent introduction to East Anglia, possibly from Europe where it is long-established as an invasive species. Becoming established in coastal grazing marshes in Norfolk and scattered elsewhere. Flowers July to August. Flowerheads are flat and button-like; leaves with bases sheathing the stems, whole plant succulent. Other species of buttonweed are grown as ornamentals and have recently been found in our region. They often have paler, greenish-white flowers rather than yellow and can be compared by clicking here.
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Common Tansy Tanacetum vulgare
Native but also cultivated as a medicinal herb in the past and scattered throughout the region in grassy places, especially roadside verges. Flowers July to September. Flowerheads are clustered, many together, in flat-headed groups, atop tall stems, to a metre high.
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Nodding Bur-marigold Bidens cernua
Native of wetlands along good-quality waterways, but much declined from its former distribution. Flowers July to September. A variable plant, generally growing to 30-60cm but sometimes taller, in swampy, shady places. Leaves simple with coarsely toothed margins.
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Trifid Bur-marigold Bidens tripartita
Native of a range of wetland habitats. Generally less common than Nodding Bur-marigold, except in parts of the Fens. Flowers July to September. A variable plant, generally growing to 15-75cm. Leaves mostly dived into three, narrow lobes.
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Sea Aster Tripolium pannonicum
Native. Widespread and abundant in coastal saltmarsh habitats and occasionally in coastal shingle. Flowers July to October. Leaves thick and fleshy. Most plants have pale lilac petals but these can be absent in some plants (usually called the 'rayless' form), leaving just the central cluster of yellow florets. Such petalless flowers can be confused with other yellow button species on this page, or even with the groundsels which can be checked by clicking here.
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Lavender-cotton Santolina chamaecyparissus
Introduced as a garden plant from southern Europe as a garden and amenity plant. Flowers July to August. A woody perennial, forming a low bush to 80cm in height. Leaves and stems densely covered in white, cottony hairs.
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