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Rocky Mountain beggarticks

Scientific Name: Bidens heterosperma

Family: Asteraceae

Category: Dicot

Growth: Forb/herb

Duration: Annual

Other Names:

       

Bidens heterosperma - Rocky Mountain Beggarticks

Bidens heterosperma, commonly known as Rocky Mountain Beggarticks, is a flowering plant species belonging to the daisy family (Asteraceae). It is a forb/herb, meaning it's a non-woody plant that is not a grass.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant is known by common names such as "beggarticks," "black jack," "burr marigolds," and "cobbler's pegs." These names often allude to the plant's seeds' ability to stick to fur or clothing, which could be a nuisance for pets.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Bidens heterosperma A. Gray
  • Common Name: Rocky Mountain Beggarticks
  • Family: Asteraceae (Daisy Family)
  • Genus: Bidens L.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Bidens heterosperma is native to North America, specifically the northwestern region.
  • It is found in seeps on rocky slopes at elevations of 1500-2800 meters.
  • Specific locations include Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and parts of Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, Sinaloa).

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • It is described as a forb/herb, which is a non-woody plant that isn't a grass.
  • It flowers from September to October.

Related Species

  • Other Bidens species include:
    • Bidens cernua (Nodding Beggarticks)
    • Bidens aurea (Arizona Beggarticks)
    • Bidens amplissima (Vancouver Island Beggarticks)
    • Bidens cervicata (Kauai Beggarticks)
    • Bidens conjuncta (Bog Beggarticks)
    • Bidens hillebrandiana (Seacliff Beggarticks)
    • Bidens pilosa (Hairy Beggarticks)
    • Bidens tenuisecta (Slimlobe Beggarticks)

Quirky Facts

  • The name "beggarticks" and its variations (like "devil's sticktight") hint at the plant's seed dispersal mechanism, where seeds stick to passersby, much like ticks on animals.

Further Information

  • Discover Life offers a page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Bidens heterosperma.
  • An online guide to wildflowers and trees of Colorado and New Mexico in the Southern Rocky Mountains also provides information.