Bidens - Beggarticks

Family: Asteraceae (Aster family) ^[E-flora]

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Local Sp.

1. Bidens amplissima - Vancouver Island beggarticks ^[E-flora]
2. Bidens beckii - Water marigold ^[E-flora]
3. Bidens cernua - Nodding beggarticks ^[E-flora]
4. Bidens connata - Purplestem beggarticks ^[E-flora]
5. Bidens frondosa - Common beggarticks ^[E-flora]
6. Bidens tripartita - Three-parted beggarticks ^[E-flora]
7. Bidens vulgata - Tall beggarticks ^[E-flora]

Image References

• (1) Fungus Guy, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
• (2) Ixitixel, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
• (3) Dalgial, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Biology

• General: The genus Bidens comprises 230 to 240 species of flowering plants in the aster family (Asteraceae). (1) They are typically annual or perennial herbs. (1)
• Appearance: Bidens species are characterized by their flower heads, which often have ray florets (resembling petals) that are typically yellow, white, or pink, and disc florets that are usually yellow. (2) The leaves are oppositely arranged and can be simple or pinnately divided. (3) A defining characteristic of many Bidens species is their seeds (achenes), which have two to four sharp, barbed awns that readily attach to fur and clothing, earning them the common name "beggarticks" or "Spanish needles". (3)
• Habitat: Bidens species are found in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, estuaries, pond and stream margins, and disturbed areas like roadsides and fields. (4) They are widespread in temperate and tropical regions around the world. (1)
• Distribution: The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution. (1) Some species, like Bidens frondosa, are widespread across North America and have been introduced to other continents. (5) Other species, like Bidens amplissima, have a more restricted range, found only in specific regions of southwestern British Columbia and Washington state. (4)
• Look-alikes: Some Bidens species can be confused with each other or with plants in the genus Coreopsis. For example, Bidens bipinnata (Spanish needles) can be mistaken for Coreopsis tinctoria (Plains coreopsis), but the latter generally has larger and showier flowers. (6) Bidens frondosa (Devil's beggarticks) can be distinguished from the similar Bidens cernua (Nodding beggarticks) by the absence of ray flowers in the former. (7)

Ethnobotany

• Food Uses: The young leaves and shoots of some Bidens species, such as Bidens pilosa, are edible when cooked and are used in sauces and teas. (1) The leaves of Bidens alba are also consumed, sometimes raw in salads, though older leaves can have an unpleasant taste. (8)
• Medicinal Uses: Bidens pilosa is widely used in traditional medicine across the globe for a vast array of ailments. It has been employed to treat inflammation, digestive issues, infections, and wounds. (1) In some cultures, it's used as a remedy for snake bites. (1) In Southern Africa, extracts are used to treat malaria. (3)
• Other Uses: The dried leaves of Bidens alba have been used as a tobacco substitute. (8)

Phytochemistry and Pharmacology

• Phytochemistry: Bidens species, particularly Bidens pilosa, are rich in various phytochemicals, including polyacetylenes, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. (9, 10) These compounds are believed to be responsible for the plant's medicinal properties.
• Pharmacology: Scientific studies have investigated the pharmacological activities of Bidens extracts and isolated compounds, revealing anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects. (11)
• Allelopathy: There is some evidence to suggest that certain Bidens species may have allelopathic properties, meaning they can produce biochemicals that inhibit the growth of nearby plants.

Cultivation

• Propagation: Bidens are easily grown from seed. (12) They can also be propagated from cuttings. (12)
• Growing Conditions: Most Bidens species prefer full sun and well-drained soil. (13) They are generally tolerant of a range of soil types and are often found in disturbed areas. (4, 3)

Lore

The common names "beggarticks" and "Spanish needles" are a clear reference to the plant's tenacious seeds, which hitch a ride on unsuspecting passersby, a highly effective method of seed dispersal.

Related Species

• Bidens alba (Shepherd's needle): Known for its white ray flowers and edible leaves. (8)
• Bidens frondosa (Devil's beggarticks): A common species with pinnately divided leaves and no ray flowers. (7)
• Bidens cernua (Nodding beggarticks): Distinguished by its nodding flower heads. (7)
• Bidens ferulifolia (Apache Beggarticks): A popular ornamental species with finely dissected leaves and bright yellow flowers. (13)

References

1. Yang, W., Li, Y., & Li, X. (2013). Bidens pilosa L. (Asteraceae): Botanical Properties, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacology. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013, 340215. (Accessed August 10, 2025).
2. Florida Native Plant Society. (n.d.). Bidens alba. (https://www.fnps.org/plant/bidens-alba) (Accessed August 10, 2025).
3. Wikipedia. (2025, July 19). Bidens pilosa. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidens_pilosa) (Accessed August 10, 2025).
4. Burke Herbarium. (n.d.). Bidens. (https://burkeherbarium.org/imagecollection/browse.php?Genus=Bidens) (Accessed August 10, 2025).
5. Wikipedia. (2025, July 19). Bidens frondosa. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidens_frondosa) (Accessed August 10, 2025).
6. Virginia Tech. (n.d.). Spanish needles Bidens bipinnata Weed Profile. (https://weedid.cals.vt.edu/profile/103) (Accessed August 10, 2025).
7. Portland State University. (n.d.). Bidens frondosa- devil's beggarticks. (https://web.pdx.edu/~maserj/ESR410/bidens.html) (Accessed August 10, 2025).
8. Wikipedia. (2025, July 19). Bidens alba. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidens_alba) (Accessed August 10, 2025).
9. Lima, G. P., et al. (2011). Compilation of Secondary Metabolites from Bidens pilosa L. Molecules, 16(2), 1070-1102. (Accessed August 10, 2025).
10. Tshibangu, D. S., et al. (2023). Phytochemical analysis and anti-mycobacterium activity of Bidens pilosa crude extracts. Journal of Biotech Research, 15, 116-137. (Accessed August 10, 2025).
11. Xuan, T. D., & Khanh, T. D. (2016). Chemistry and pharmacology of Bidens pilosa: an overview. Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation, 46(2), 91-132. (Accessed August 10, 2025).
12. The Spruce. (2025, February 13). How to Grow and Care for Bidens. (https://www.thespruce.com/bidens-plant-profile-5069525) (Accessed August 10, 2025).
13. Gardenia.net. (n.d.). Bidens ferulifolia (Apache Beggarticks). (https://www.gardenia.net/plant/bidens-ferulifolia) (Accessed August 10, 2025).

Local species

Bidens amplissima Greene - Vancouver Island beggarticks

This is a blue-listed taxon in BC ^[E-flora]

"Vancouver Island beggarticks is an annual wetland member of the aster family (Asteraceae) with a very restricted range in North America. Once thought to be endemic to southwestern British Columbia, it has recently been found in Washington State (Ganders et al. 2003). Plants are erect and branched, 0.5-1.0 (1.5) m tall, with stalkless leaves that can be simple, tri-lobed, or partially lobed.. Flowers are 'daisy-like' with yellow ray flowers. When in flower, this species resembles nodding beggarticks (Bidens cernua). Vancouver Island beggarticks is found in the moist edges of marshes, in bogs, along stream and river banks, in pond edges and in ditches. Populations are susceptible to infestations of the beetle Calligrapha californica coreopsivora, a species favoured by cranberry growers because it feeds on weeds in cranberry fields (Hartwell pers. comm. 2009)." ^[E-flora]

"In his rare plants of the Fraser Valley article, Lomer (2011) says: "This confounding and variable species is present in the Fraser Valley from Delta to Chilliwack. The Fraser delta contains plants that are morphologically confusing. These are rather tall slender estuary plants with long petioles and long achenes bearing long awns (UBC: Lomer 6765). It appears that the slender habit is largely an environmental response to constant tidal inundation, while the long fruit, over 2 cm long, is genetic. Dozens of fruits were collected from Fraser estuary plants in Richmond and the longest fruit bodies averaged 13 mm and the awns averaged 8.5 mm. The longest fruit body was 17 mm and the longest awn 10 mm. These fruit traits held when plants I collected were grown under garden conditions in my front yard. These Fraser estuary plants with the long fruit appear to be a unique form of Bidens amplissima. Genetic testing is needed to confirm their true identity. If we take these estuary plants into account as part of the variation within the species, then Bidens amplissima may be more widespread than reports indicate. These estuary forms can be found north to the Kimsquit River near Bella Coola (V: C. Clement 8327) and, perhaps, south to the Columbia. Further collecting is needed to confirm the species' full range." Extracted from Botanical Electronic News #432, January 2011, with permission." ^[E-flora]

"General: Annual herb from a fibrous root; stems ascending to erect, glabrous or nearly so, branched above, 0.5-1.0 m (1.5 m) tall." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Notes: Cronquist (1955) suggested that morphologically, Bidens amplissima may represent a hybrid between B. cernua and B. frondosa or B. vulgata. Recent work by Ganders et al. (2000) shows that its ITS and isozyme similarity to B. cernua and B. tripartita suggest it is a recently evolved species." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Habitat / Range Moist to wet ditches, streambanks and pond edges in the lowland zone; infrequent in SW BC, known from Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland; endemic to BC." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Status: Native ^[E-flora]

Similar Species This species can be confused with Bidens cernua and Bidens tripartita. B. amplissima is readily separated from B. cernua, which has cartilaginous and concave achene summits (achenes broadest at the summits), globular flower heads, and more numerous petals than B. amplissima. While B. amplissima grows on pond margins, B. cernua is frequently found in deeper standing water. B. amplissima is also readily separated from B. tripartita, which can be very similar in appearance. B. tripartita; however, lacks the ray petals that are typical of B. amplissima. Hybrids do occur, and often populations are a mix of species and hybrids." (British Columbia Conservation Data Centre)^[E-flora]

Synonyms:
Bidens cernua var. elata Torr. & A. Gray
Bidens elata (Torr. & A. Gray) Sherff ^[E-flora]

Bidens beckii Torr. ex Spreng. - Water marigold ^[E-flora]

Status: Native ^[E-flora]

Bidens cernua L. - Nodding beggarticks

General:
"Annual herb from a fibrous root; stems erect, simple or branched, sparsely spreading-hairy to glabrous, 0.1-1.0 m tall." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Habitat / Range:
"Wet ditches and lakeshores in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; common throughout BC east of the Coast-Cascade Mountains, less frequent on Vancouver Island and the adjacent mainland; circumboreal, E to PQ and S to NC, AR, OK, TX, NM, AZ and CA, Eurasia." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Status: Native ^[E-flora]

Synonyms:
Bidens cernua var. cernua L.
Bidens cernua var. dentata (Nutt.) Boivin
Bidens cernua var. elliptica Wieg.
Bidens cernua var. integra Wieg.
Bidens cernua var. minima (Huds.) Pursh
Bidens cernua var. oligodonta Fern. & St. John
Bidens cernua var. radiata DC.
Bidens glaucescens Greene ^[E-flora]

Bidens connata Muhl. ex Willd. - Purplestem beggarticks

Introduction:
"Purplestem beggarticks originates in Europe, Asia and n. Africa, and is introduced in North America, Australia and the Pacific Islands (Barkley, Brouillet, and Strother 2012). In North America, it is found in Canada (N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que.) and the US (Conn., Del., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Va., W.Va. Wis.), where it occurs in wet sites, to 1700 elevation (Barkley, Brouillet and Strother 2012). In British Columbia, it has been collected in Burnaby, Richmond and Pitt Meadows. Flowers from August to October." ^[E-flora]

Status: Exotic ^[E-flora]

Bidens frondosa L. - Common beggarticks (devil's beggartick)

General:
"Annual herb from a fibrous root; stems erect, branched, sparsely spreading-hairy to glabrous, 0.2-1.2 m tall." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Habitat / Range:
"Mesic to wet ditches, streambanks, meadows and disturbed areas in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; infrequent throughout BC; introduced from E North America." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Status: Exotic ^[E-flora]

Synonyms:
Bidens frondosa var. anomala Porter ex Fernald
Bidens frondosa var. caudata Sherff
Bidens frondosa var. pallida Wiegand
Bidens frondosa var. stenodonta Fernald & H. St. John ^[E-flora]

Bidens tripartita L. - Three-parted beggarticks (threelobe beggarticks)

General:
"Annual herb from a fibrous root; stems erect, simple or branched, 20-100 cm tall." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Habitat / Range:
"Moist to wet ditches and ponds in the lowland zone; rare in SW BC, known only from the lower Fraser Valley; introduced from E. North America and Europe." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Status: Exotic ^[E-flora]

Synonyms:
Bidens acuta (Wieg.) Britt.
Bidens comosa (A. Gray) Wiegand ^[E-flora]

Bidens vulgata Greene - Tall beggarticks (big devils beggartick)

Introduction:
"Tall beggarticks is an annual member of the daisy family that is found across North America, with the exception of some states and provinces in the extreme north and south (USDA 2011). It is a wetland species that is found in ditches, shores of lakes and streams, swamps, marshes and moist woods, as well roadsides, railroads, fields, waste areas (Strother and Weedon 2011). In describing its occurrence in the Fraser Valley, Lomer (2011) says: "Despite the name, this species is very rare and not weedy in BC. It was found in the Fraser Valley for the first time during the BC Conservation Data Centre survey in 2008. A relatively small population was discovered in a ploughed field below Sumas Mountain (UBC: Lomer 6829) growing with Bidens amplissima Greene, Bidens cernua L. and Bidens tripartita L. I assume this population was introduced unintentionally as part of waterfowl enhancement plantings, so the origin may be from outside the province. Not observed in the natural wetlands nearby and not expected at other sites in the Fraser Valley, except perhaps as an introduction. It can be told from the common Bidens frondosa L. by its more numerous flower head bracts, yellower disc flowers, wider fruit and sturdier habit." Extracted from Botanical Electronic News #432, January 2011, with permission. ^[E-flora]

General:
"Annual herb from a fibrous root; stems erect, branched, more or less glabrous, 0.3-1.8 m tall." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Habitat / Range:
"Moist to wet ditches, streambanks and lakeshores in the steppe and montane zones; rare in S BC east of the Coast-Cascade Mountains; E to PQ and S to TN, WY, NV and CA." ^{[IFBC-E-flora]}

Status: Native ^[E-flora]

Synonyms:
Bidens frondosa var. puberula Wiegand
Bidens puberula (Wiegand) Rydb.
Bidens vulgata var. puberula (Wiegand) Greene
Bidens vulgata var. schizantha Lunell ^[E-flora]

References

1. E-flora - E-flora BC - Electronic Atlas of the Flora of B.C.
   1. Bidens amplissima, https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Bidens%20amplissima&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed August 11, 2025
   2. Bidens beckii, https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Bidens%20beckii&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed August 11, 2025
   3. Bidens cernua, https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Bidens%20cernua&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed August 11, 2025
   4. Bidens connata, https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Bidens%20connata&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed August 11, 2025
   5. Bidens frondosa, https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Bidens%20frondosa&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed August 11, 2025
   6. Bidens tripartita, https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Bidens%20tripartita&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed August 11, 2025
   7. Bidens vulgata, https://linnet.geog.ubc.ca/Atlas/Atlas.aspx?sciname=Bidens%20vulgata&redblue=Both&lifeform=7, Accessed August 11, 2025