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Asteraceae
Bidens

not marked as a favorite taxon 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.

Glossary (beta!)

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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image #1 of Bidens bipinnata© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Bidens bipinnata© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Bidens bipinnata© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Bidens bipinnata© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Bidens bipinnata© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Bidens bipinnata© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Bidens bipinnata© John Gwaltney | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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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