Bidens bipinnata is a common and widespread species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae.
Distribution
Its native range remains uncertain due to its global distribution, however prevailing thought places its origin in
Asia and
North America. It is most commonly called by the common name
Spanish needles.[Dodson, C.H. & A.H. Gentry. 1978. Flora of the Río Palenque Science Center: Los Ríos Province, Ecuador. Selbyana 4(1–6): i–xxx, 1–628][Gibbs Russell, G. E., W. G. M. Welman, E. Retief, K. L. Immelman, G. Germishuizen, B. J. Pienaar, M. Van Wyk & A. Nicholas. 1987. List of species of southern African plants. Memoirs of the Botanical Survey of South Africa 2(1–2): 1–152(pt. 1), 1–270(pt. 2).][ Biota of North America Program 2014 county distribution map][Humbert, H. 1923. Les Composées de Madagascar. Mémoires de la Société Linnéenne de Normandie 25: 1–335][Schwegman, J. E. 1991. The Vascular Flora of Langham Island, Kankakee County, Illinois. Erigenia 11: 1–8][Stevens, W. D., C. Ulloa Ulloa, A. Pool & O. M. Montiel. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden 85: i–xlii,.]
Description
Bidens bipinnata is an annual herb up to 150 cm (60 inches) tall. It produces white or yellow
flower heads each containing both
and
ray florets. The species grows in fields, forests, and disturbed sites such as road embankments and fallow agricultural areas.
[ Flora of North America, Bidens bipinnata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 832. 1753. ][ Flora of China, 婆婆针 po po zhen, Bidens bipinnata Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 2: 832. 1753. ][ Altervista Flora Italiana, Forbicina con foglie bipennate, Bidens bipinnata L. includes photos and European distribution map]
Habitat
B. pinnata tends to be a weedy,
ruderal species.
[
]
Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: Bian Tan, Loran C. Anderson, Ed Keppner, Lisa Keppner, Richard S. Mitchell, R.K. Godfrey, R. Kral, Wilson Baker, R. Komarek, Andre F. Clewell, R.A. Norris, and Andre F. Clewell. States and Counties: Florida: Columbia, Wakulla, Bay, Calhoun, Leon, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, and Liberty. Georgia: Grady. It prefers moist, sandy soils and shaded environments.
Uses
B. pinnata can be used as a potherb.
[ Fernald, et al. 1958. Edible Plants of Eastern North America. Harper and Row Publishers, New York.]
==Gallery==
See also
External links
