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devil's beggartick
Scientific Name: Bidens frondosa
Family: Asteraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Forb/herb
Duration: Annual
Other Names:
Devil's Beggartick (Bidens frondosa)
Devil's Beggartick, scientifically known as Bidens frondosa, is an annual plant belonging to the Asteraceae family.
Common Names
This plant is known by a multitude of common names, including:
- Devil's Beggarticks
- Devil's-pitchfork
- Devil's Bootjack
- Sticktights
- Bur Marigold
- Pitchfork Weed
- Tickseed Sunflower
- Leafy Beggarticks
- Spanish Needles
- Cow Lice
- Leafy Burr Marigold
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Bidens frondosa L.
- Family: Asteraceae (also known as Compositae) – Aster or Sunflower Family
- Synonyms:
- Bidens frondosa var. anomala
- Bidens frondosa var. caudata
Considerations for Pets
- The plant's seeds are known for their ability to "hitch a ride" on animals, clinging to fur and clothing.
- The plant produces "prickly fruit" that facilitate seed dispersal by sticking to fur.
Considerations for Children
- The plant's seeds are known for their ability to "hitch a ride" on clothing, clinging to fabric.
- The plant produces "prickly fruit" that facilitate seed dispersal by sticking to clothing.
Distribution and Habitat
Devil's Beggartick is a native North American plant that can be found in damp ground.
Morphological Characteristics
- It is an erect annual forb, typically growing from 1 to 4 feet tall.
- The stems branch in the upper half.
- The plant arises from a taproot and can range from 15 cm to 1.3 m in height.
- It features petal-less orange-yellow flower heads about 1/2 inch across with 5 to 12 leafy bracts.
Ecological Role
Devil's Beggartick is an annual that completes its life cycle in one season and re-seeds.
Devil’s Beggartick seeds have a mechanism for dispersal whereby they "hitch a ride" on animals and clothing.
Interactions with Other Organisms
- Harvester Ants (Messor aciculatus) have been observed carrying Devil's Beggartick seeds.
Quirky Facts
- The name "beggarticks" alludes to an irritant befitting a beggar.
Traditional Uses
- The root of this plant and of Bidens connata has been used medicinally.
- Infusions of Devil's Beggartick are considered herbal remedies for irritation, inflammation, pain, and bleeding of the urinary tract, among other things.