Back
Bidens alba (L.) DC.
| Family Name: | Asteraceae (Compositae) |
| Synonyms: | Bidens pilosa var. radiata, Coreopsis alba |
| Common Name: | Shepherd's Needles, Butterfly Needles, Hairy Beggarticks, Spanish Needles |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Growth Form | Herbaceous Plant |
|---|---|
| Maximum Height | 0.3 m to 1.2 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Tropical America |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Disturbed Area / Open Ground) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical |
| Local Conservation Status | Non-native (Horticultural / Cultivated Only) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Perennial herb that grows up to 1.2 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | Juvenile leaves are simple and opposite, while mature leaves are compound and composed of 3 - 9 oval leaflets with serrate leaf margin. Leaves (2.5 - 12.7 cm long, 6.4 cm wide) are hairy on the underside. |
| Stems | Stems are ridged. |
| Flowers | Daisy-like, compound flowers (2.5 cm wide) are composed of 5 white ray florets (petal-like structures) and numerous yellow disk florets (in the middle). The ray florets are obovate with a scalloped tip and a pleated texture. |
| Fruit | Fruits are composed of star-shaped clusters of thin, black, ribbed seeds. The needle-like seeds have 2 - 6 barbed hooks at the end. |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting (Flower Nectar) |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Biotic (Fauna) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Fast |
| Maintenance Requirements | Low |
| Potential Problems | It produces copious amounts of seeds that can quickly overtake a garden. |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Mature Foliage Texture(s) | Hairy / Hirsute |
| Prominent Young Flush Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Compound (Odd-Pinnate) |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Oval) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Serrate / Toothed |
| Foliar Apex - Tip | Acute |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden, White |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Terminal |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
| Individual Flower Shape | Stellate / Star-shaped |
| Inflorescence Type | Compound Head / Capitulum |
| Flowering Period | Free-Flowering |
| Flower Texture(s) Remarks | Pleated |
| Flower Size | 2.5 cm |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 29307 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 3616 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
