Bidens bipinnata Linnaeus. Common name: Spanish Needles. Phenology: Jul-Oct. Habitat: Floodplains, disturbed areas, gardens, fields, roadsides, ditches. Distribution: MA, NY, ON, IA, NE, and AZ south to c. FL and Mexico (?); e. Asia.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl7, FNA21, G, GrPl, Il, K4, NcTx, NY, Oh3, Ok, Pa, RAB, S, SE1, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3; > Bidens bipinnata L. var. bipinnata — Sherff & Alexander (1955); > Bidens bipinnata L. var. biternatoides Sherff. Basionym: Bidens bipinnata L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Bidens bipinnata - FNA21
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FACU
- Midwest: FAC
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect annual of floodplains, disturbed areas, gardens, fields, roadsides and ditches.
Stems: Stems widely branched and smooth or minutely hairy.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, 1 1/2-8 in. long, 2-3 times pinnately divided into lance-shaped or oval segments with blunt teeth or lobes, mostly smooth; leaves resemble fern fronds.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) on short to long stalks at ends of stems and branches; heads about 1/4 in. wide, consisting of 3-5 yellow, oval ray florets (often absent) encircling a central disk of dark yellow, tubular florets; 2 series of very narrow, green bracts--the inner longer than the outer--surround the bell-shaped base of each head.
Fruits: Fruit a very narrow, needle-like achene bearing 2-4 barbed awns.
Comments:
Height: 1-5 ft.
plant sale text: Spanish needles has smaller flowers and is less showy than its cousin bearded beggarsticks (Bidens aristosa), but its deeply divided, fern-like leaves and its interesting seed heads make it a unique addition to the garden. The genus name Bidens means "two teeth", referring to the barbed awns on the needle-like, trident-shaped seeds.
bloom table text:
description: Erect annual of floodplains, disturbed areas, gardens, fields, roadsides and ditches.
stems: Stems widely branched and smooth or minutely hairy.
leaves: Leaves opposite, petiolate, 1 1/2-8 in. long, 2-3 times pinnately divided into lance-shaped or oval segments with blunt teeth or lobes, mostly smooth; leaves resemble fern fronds.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) on short to long stalks at ends of stems and branches; heads about 1/4 in. wide, consisting of 3-5 yellow, oval ray florets (often absent) encircling a central disk of dark yellow, tubular florets; 2 series of very narrow, green bracts--the inner longer than the outer--surround the bell-shaped base of each head.
fruits: Fruit a very narrow, needle-like achene bearing 2-4 barbed awns.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code: 2,5
native range:
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