devil's beggartick
Family
FabaceaeScientific Name
Bidens frondosaSynonyms (former Scientific Names):
Bidens frondosa var. stenodonta
Bidens frondosa var. caudata
Bidens frondosa var. pallida
Bidens frondosa var. anomala
Habit
Forb/herb
Leaves
Leaves are arranged oppositely along the stem and occur on petioles. Leaves are divided into 3 to 5 leaflets that are lanceolate in outline and have toothed margins. Leaflets may have a few short hairs.
Identifying Characteristics
A summer annual that may reach as much as 3 1/2 feet in height. Devils beggarticks has prickly fruit that facilitate seed dispersal by sticking to the fur and clothing of any animal or human that brushes by this weed when mature. Devils beggarticks is primarily a weed of pastures, hay fields, roadsides, landscapes, and nurseries. Leaves that are divided into 3 to 5 leaflets that are lanceolate and have toothed margins and the distinctive 'barbed' fruit. Devils beggarticks is similar in appearance to Coreopsis Beggarticks (Bidens polylepis) and Spanishneedles (Bidens bipinnata). Both of these weeds, however, have leaves that are dissected into more leaflets than those of devils beggarticks. Additionally, coreopsis beggarticks has flowers that are much larger and more showy than either devils beggarticks or Spanishneedles.
Flower Seed Head
Consist of inner disk flowers that are brownish in color and outer ray flowers that are yellow to orange in color. Flowers are 1 inch in width and are fairly inconspicuous.
Seed Fruit
Cotyledons areoblong in outline (up to 25 mm long) and appear to be on petioles. The first true leaves are arranged oppositely along the stem. Subsequent leaves are divided into at least 3 leaflets. An achene that ranges from 6 to 12 mm in length and is brown in color. Achenes have 2 distinctive spines with 'barbs' that help the fruit to stick to whatever they come into contact with
Where Found
It is found throughout the United States.
Growth Habit
upright and nonwoody
Thorns or Spines
not present
Approximate Flower Diameter
Varies:
dime,
nickle
Dominant Flower Color
Varies:
yellow,
orange
Flower Symmetry
not symmetrical
Leaf Hairs
Varies:
has hairs,
no hairs
Leaf Shape
lance
Leaf Arrangement
opposite
Leaf Margin
serrated
Leaf Structure
Varies:
simple,
pinnate
Leaf Stalk
Varies:
shorter than leaf,
longer than leaf
Stem Hairs
Varies:
has hairs,
no hairs
Stem Cross Section
round or oval
Milky Sap
not present
Root Structure
fibrous
Life Cycle
summer annual
Ochrea
not present
Plant Type
Herb