Beggar-ticks (Bidens frondosa, Sp. Pl.: 832 (1753))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 832 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Bidens

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Canada to U.S.A.

Description

Beggar-ticks, scientifically known as Bidens frondosa, is a notable member of the Asteraceae family. First described in the seminal work Species Plantarum in 1753 by the distinguished botanist Carl Linnaeus, this plant has a widespread presence from Canada down through the United States.

Bear-ticks typically thrive in moist, disturbed environments such as along streams, rivers, and in wetlands. The robust adaptability of Bidens frondosa allows it to colonize a variety of habitats, contributing to its widespread distribution across the North American continent.

The plant is easily distinguishable by its lance-shaped leaves and bright yellow flower heads, which bear a resemblance to small daisies. However, its most defining feature is the barbed seeds, which readily attach to clothing or animal fur, earning it the common name “Beggar-ticks.”

Ecologically, Bidens frondosa plays a critical role in its environment. It serves as a vital food source for various pollinators, including bees and butterflies, which are attracted to the nectar-rich flowers. Furthermore, many birds feast on the seeds, thus aiding in the plant’s dispersal across wide areas.

In addition to its ecological contributions, Bidens frondosa has been noted for its traditional uses in herbal remedies, having been employed by indigenous communities for its purported medicinal properties. Despite its benefits, it can sometimes be considered a weed due to its aggressive growth and ability to spread rapidly.

Understanding and appreciating Bidens frondosa within its native range offers insight not just into its botanical characteristics, but also into its broader environmental and cultural significance.

Common Names

Eng: beggar-ticks, beggarticks, bur marigold, devil’s beggar-ticks, devil’s beggartick, devil’s beggarticks, devil’s bootjack, devil’s-pitchfork, large-leaved beggarticks, pitchfork weed, stick-tights, sticktight, sticktights, tickseed sunflower, beggars’ ticks, common beggarticks, leafy beggarticks, tall beggarticks
Fra: bident feuillu, bident feuillé, bident à fruits noirs
Deu: dichtbelaubter zweizahn, schwarzfrucht-zweizahn, schwarzfrüchtiger zweizahn
Ita: forbicina peduncolata
Dan: hyldebladet brøndsel, sortfrugtet brøndsel
Lit: ilgakotis lakišius
Pol: uczep amerykański
Nld: zwart tandzaad
Spa: cáñamo de agua americano
Ces: dvouzubec
Por: erva-rapa
Hun: feketés farkasfog
Swe: fläderskära
Lav: lapainais sunītis
Cym: graban deiliog, llau’r crwydryn
En: Beggar-ticks, Stick-tights, Devil’s beggar-ticks, Devil’s beggartick, Devil’s-Pitchfork, DEVILS BEGGARTICK, Sticktight, Devil’s Beggarticks, Beggarticks, Large-leaved beggarticks, Bur marigold, Devil’s bootjack, Pitchfork weed, Sticktights, Tickseed sunflower, Beggars’ ticks, Common beggarticks, Leafy beggarticks, Tall beggarticks, Beggar’s-ticks
Az: Çoxyarpaq yatıqqanqal
Bg: Многолистен бутрак
Ca: Bident frondós
Zh: 大狼把草
Cs: Dvouzubec černoplodý, Dvouzubec
Da: Hyldebladet brøndsel, Sortfrugtet brøndsel
Nl: Zwart tandzaad
Et: Ameerika ruse
Fi: Seljarusokki
Fr: Bident feuillu, Bident à fruits noirs, Bident feuillé
De: Schwarzfrüchtiger Zweizahn, Dichtbelaubter Zweizahn, Schwarzfrucht-Zweizahn
Hu: Feketéllő farkasfog, Feketés farkasfog
It: Forbicina peduncolata
Ko: 미국가막사리
Lv: Lapainais sunītis
Lt: Ilgakotis lakišius
Pl: Uczep amerykański
Pt: Erva-rapa
Sr: Kozji rogovi
Es: Cáñamo de agua americano, Acahualillo
Sv: Fläderskära
Zh-tw: 大狼杷草
Cy: Graban deiliog, Llau’r Crwydryn

Synonyms

• Bidens frondosa var. minor (Hook.)
• Bidens frondosa var. major (Hook.)
• Bidens frondosa var. caudata (Sherff)
• Bidens frondosa var. anomala (Porter ex Fernald)
• Bidens melanocarpa (Wiegand)
• Bidens frondosa f. anomala ((Porter ex Fernald) Fernald)
• Bidens frondosa var. pallida ((Wiegand) Wiegand)
• Bidens melanocarpa var. pallida (Wiegand)
• Bidens frondosa var. stenodonta (Fernald & H.St.John)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Alaska (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• California (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Delaware (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• Florida (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Idaho (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Nevada (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• Nova Scotia (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Prince Edward I. (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Saskatchewan (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Utah (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Albania (introduced)
• Austria (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Belarus (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Corse (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Khabarovsk (introduced)
• Kirgizstan (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• Krym (introduced)
• Kuril Is. (introduced)
• Lebanon-Syria (introduced)
• Morocco (introduced)
• Netherlands (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• North Caucasus (introduced)
• Northwest European R (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Poland (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Primorye (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Sardegna (introduced)
• Sicilia (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Tadzhikistan (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Turkey (introduced)
• Ukraine (introduced)
• West Siberia (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)

Additional Images

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Flower

Taken Sep 14, 2019 by Lennaert Steen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 26, 2016 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 14, 2019 by Lennaert Steen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2021 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 21, 2021 by Stéphane Mars (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 27, 2021 by Beck Mel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 20, 2022 by Anaïs Fernandes (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2021 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2021 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 19, 2021 by hauszleraj (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Sep 4, 2018 by Tela Botanica − Liliane Roubaudi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 12, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 12, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 22, 2020 by Franz Wankhammer (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 12, 2017 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jul 29, 2020 by Rob van Kessel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 2, 2021 by Marc Solà (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 13, 2019 by etienne copeaux (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 23, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2021 by Jeff B (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 27, 2021 by Kyle Rector (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2022 by MakerMagpie (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 19, 2018 by macchia1 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 23, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 25, 2021 by Jean-Baptiste Tourneyrie (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Sep 9, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 5, 2020 by viader (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 27, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Joseph RÉZEAU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 14, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Bertrand BUI (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 9, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5392174)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:315743-2)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Bidens frondosa L.)

Specifications

Growth