Cotula is a genus of flowering plant that belongs to sunflower family including plants known as buttonweeds or water buttons. The species belongs to the genus that varies extensively in habit, leaf division, receptacle and achenes. The genus is defined by viewing at corollas of the flowers. Most are disciform which lacks ray florets. The corollas are tubular, reduced and even absent. Other characteristic is it has solitary heads that grows on peduncle.
Cotula is soft annual herb that reaches 40-50 cm high. The plant bears alternate, finely divided leaves about 5-6 cm long, 1.5-2 cm wide and obovate to oblanceolate. Stems are much branched usually 20 cm long and 1-2 mm wide. The flowers are pale yellow to cream and about 4-5 mm diameter. The plant blooms from winter to spring season. Flowers are then followed by flattened fruits usually about 1-1.5 mm long.
[Not a valid template]Culinary uses
In Peru, the herb is used for flavoring dishes.
Flowers are used to prepare herbal tea.
Medicinal uses
It is used to treat various health ailments such as diarrhea, cough, colic, rheumatism, digestive disorders, urinary and pulmonary infections, headaches and fevers.
Use the cold infusion for gastric debility with flatus.
Hot infusion is used as diaphoretic and emetic to provide relief from colds due to sudden cutaneous chilling.
It decreases pain in dysmenorrhea.
The oil is used as carminative and for colic and intestinal cramps.
