Biden Pilosa Characteristics, Bidens Pilosa L

Pilosa with capitula without ray flowers or with short rays up to 3 mm and involucral bracts numbering 7 10.

Us lockdown 2. Bisetosa alongsideexaminationof morphologicaltraitsauthenticationof b. Bidens pilosa has outer involucral bracts a whorl or several whorls of modified leaves surrounding a flower or an infloresence that are linear or lanceolate and are finely hairy on the margins edges. For example bidens species are known by such names as spanish needles beggar s ticks devil s.

Pilosa is thought to have originated in south america and subsequently spread all over the world. Easily recognizable by the sharp aggravating seed pods that embed themselves into hair and clothing bidens pilosa is used in both traditional chinese medicine and western herbalism as well as in folk medical traditions around the world. Kissmann and groth 1993 distinguish bidens subalternans on the basis that it has four awns on the achene but other authors treat this as synonymous with b.

Only 4 5 species are reported in. Capitula with 5 8 ray flowers with well developed rays 5 16 mm long and involucral bracts numbering mostly 12 vs. Romerillo bidens pilosa l.

Commonly known as spanish needle or beggars ticks bidens pilosa is a common crop weed and wasteland plant widespread on every continent except antarctica. It is in flower from may to october. Light sandy medium loamy and heavy clay soils.

The cotyledon shape lies between bidens pilosa var. Pilosa of length about 12 15mm and width about 2 3mm. Bidens pilosa can be recognized by the elongated bur like fruits that bear recurved or hooked bristles which have played an important role in its spread holm et al 1977.

Bidens pilosa is a annual growing to 1 m 3ft 3in. Bidens species and their varieties bear vernacular names based on their characteristicsfor example bidens species are known by such names as spanish needles beggars ticks devils needles cobblers pegs broom stick pitchforks and farmers friends in english and some other. The outer involucral bracts are shorter than the inner involucral bracts.

The species is hermaphrodite has both male and female organs and is pollinated by bees hover flies. It cannot grow in the shade. Acid neutral and basic alkaline soils.

Pilosa has several varieties such as b. Linear cotyledon shape of length about 15 17mm and width about 1 2mm. Spindle shaped cotyledon wider than the other 2 subspecies of length about 12 15mm and width about 3 4mm.