''Bidens bipinnata'' is a common and widespread
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...
in the family
Asteraceae
Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...
.
Distribution
Its native range remains uncertain due to its global distribution, however prevailing thought places its origin in
Asia
Asia ( , ) is the largest continent in the world by both land area and population. It covers an area of more than 44 million square kilometres, about 30% of Earth's total land area and 8% of Earth's total surface area. The continent, which ...
and
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere, Northern and Western Hemisphere, Western hemispheres. North America is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South Ameri ...
. It is most commonly called by the common name Spanish needles.
Description
''Bidens bipinnata'' is an annual herb up to 150 cm (60 inches) tall. It produces white or yellow
flower heads
A pseudanthium (; : pseudanthia) is an inflorescence that resembles a flower. The word is sometimes used for other structures that are neither a true flower nor a true inflorescence. Examples of pseudanthia include flower heads, composite flowers ...
each containing both
disc floret
Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fa ...
s and
ray florets
Asteraceae () is a large family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchidaceae, and which is the larger fa ...
. The species grows in fields, forests, and disturbed sites such as road embankments and fallow agricultural areas.
Altervista Flora Italiana, Forbicina con foglie bipennate, ''Bidens bipinnata'' L.
includes photos and European distribution map
Gallery
File:B.bipinnata-aerial-1.jpg, A yellow ''B. bipinnata'' flower blooming in mid-October in Texas.
File:B.bipinnata-double-seedhead.jpg, Needle-like seeds, hence the name "Spanish Needle". Each bearing three to four barbed spikes to facilitate propagation.
See also
*''bidens tripartita
''Bidens tripartita'' is a common and widespread species of flowering plant in the sunflower family, Asteraceae, commonly known as three-lobe beggarticks, three-part beggarticks, leafy-bracted beggarticks or trifid bur-marigold. It is native to m ...
''
References
External links
bipinnata
Flora of Asia
Flora of Northern America
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
{{Coreopsideae-stub