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Bidens alba
Also called Shepherd's Needles, Shepherd's Ticks, Spanish Needle, White Beggar Ticks, Beggar's Lice, Monkey's Lice, Shepherds Needles
Bidens alba is a species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, commonly known as shepherd's needles, beggarticks, Spanish needles, or butterfly needles. Bidens means two- toothed, describing the two projections found at the top of the seeds, and alba refers to the white ray florets. This plant is found in tropical and subtropical regions of North America, Asia, South America, and Africa, situated in gardens, road sides, farm fields and disturbed sites. B. alba is an annual or short-lived perennial, which is considered a weed in the United States. However, B. alba leaves are edible and can be used as medicinal remedies.
Bidens alba is a fast-growing, fast-spreading weed due to its enormous number of seeds and the ability to re-grow from stems. In sub-tropical to tropical conditions, B. alba can grow almost everywhere in full sun with little or no moisture. The most growth occurs in organic matter with loose soil; however, they can also propagate well on sand and lime-rocks in non-irrigated habitats. The seeds are dispersed mainly by animals or humans, although some are also carried by wind and water.
Bidens alba provide a nectar source for butterflies and honey-bees.
Bidens acrifolia · Bidens acuticaulis · Kokolau · Vancouver Island beggarticks · Bearded beggarticks · Arizona beggarticks · Beck's water-marigold · Delmarva beggarticks · Bigelow's beggarticks · Spanish needles · Bidens cabopulmensis · Viper beggarticks
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Bidens alba by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
Life form, climate and native range: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (CC BY 3.0), reformatted; see Plants of the World Online.
