Bidens laevis (Linnaeus) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenburg. Common name: Showy Bur-marigold. Phenology: Aug-Nov. Habitat: Marshes, stream banks, ditches. Distribution: ME, NY, IN, MO, NV, and CA southward.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, Fl7, FNA21, G, GW2, Il, K4, Mex, NcTx, NE, NY, Ok, Pa, RAB, SE1, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, Sherff & Alexander (1955); < Bidens cernua L. — Oh3; > Bidens laevis (L.) Britton, Sterns, & Poggenb. — S; > Bidens nashii Small — S; Helianthus laevis Linnaeus. Basionym: Helianthus laevis L. 1753
Links to other floras: = Bidens laevis - FNA21
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL
- Great Plains: OBL
- Midwest: OBL
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect annual/perennial with prostrate, elongate, rooting bases, found in marshes, pond edges, stream banks and ditches.
Stems: Stems unbranched to freely branched and smooth.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, usually sessile, oval or lance-shaped, 1 1/2-6 in. long, not lobed, finely toothed and smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Composite flowers (heads) 1-several terminating stem, erect or often nodding in age; heads 1 1/2-2 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 7-8 yellow ray florets encircling a slightly domed central disk of dark yellow, 5-lobed tubular florets; 2 series of bracts--the inner pale yellow and oval and the outer green and narrower--surround the base of each head.
Fruits: Fruit a flat or angled achene with 2-4 barbed awns.
Comments: Similar to Bidens cernua; ray florets of B. laevis are at least as long as the outer bracts.
Height: 1-3 ft. (occasionally to 7 ft.)
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect annual/perennial with prostrate, elongate, rooting bases, found in marshes, pond edges, stream banks and ditches.
stems: Stems unbranched to freely branched and smooth.
leaves: Leaves opposite, usually sessile, oval or lance-shaped, 1 1/2-6 in. long, not lobed, finely toothed and smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Composite flowers (heads) 1-several terminating stem, erect or often nodding in age; heads 1 1/2-2 1/2 in. wide, consisting of 7-8 yellow ray florets encircling a slightly domed central disk of dark yellow, 5-lobed tubular florets; 2 series of bracts--the inner pale yellow and oval and the outer green and narrower--surround the base of each head.
fruits: Fruit a flat or angled achene with 2-4 barbed awns.
comments: Similar to Bidens cernua; ray florets of B. laevis are at least as long as the outer bracts.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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