Spanish-needles (Bidens bipinnata, Sp. Pl.: 832 (1753))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 832 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Bidens

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: E. Canada to C. & E. U.S.A. and Arizona

Description

Spanish-needles, scientifically known as Bidens bipinnata, is a fascinating plant belonging to the Asteraceae family. This species was first described in the seminal work “Species Plantarum” in 1753 by the renowned taxonomist Carl Linnaeus, often abbreviated as L.

Widely distributed across various regions, Spanish-needles can be found from Eastern Canada through Central and Eastern parts of the United States, extending its presence all the way to Arizona. This extensive range underscores the plant’s adaptability to diverse environmental conditions.

Characterized by its notable needle-like seeds, Spanish-needles has a distinctive morphology that makes it easily identifiable. The plant typically grows in open, disturbed sites such as roadsides, fields, and along the edges of forests, thriving in areas where the soil has been disrupted.

The leaves of Bidens bipinnata are deeply cut and pinnate, contributing to its unique bipinnate leaf structure. The flowers, although modest in appearance compared to some of its more flamboyant relatives within the Asteraceae family, play an essential role in the ecological dynamics of their habitats. They attract a variety of pollinators, thus contributing to the biodiversity and health of the ecosystems they inhabit.

Interestingly, despite its somewhat invasive nature, Spanish-needles has been noted for its potential medicinal properties. Traditional uses have included treatments for various ailments, although such applications should be approached with caution and proper knowledge.

In summary, Spanish-needles (Bidens bipinnata) is more than just a common weed; it is a resilient and ecologically significant plant that holds both historical and botanical interest. Its presence from E. Canada to C. & E. U.S.A. and into Arizona highlights its versatility and the intriguing adaptability of plant species within the Asteraceae family.

Common Names

Fra: bident bipenné, bident à feuilles bipennées, herbe aiguille, herbe à aiguilles, bident deux fois penné
Deu: fiederblatt- zweizahn, fiederblättriger zweizahn
Ita: forbicina bipinnata
Eng: spanish needles, spanish-needles, hemlock beggar-ticks, bipinnate beggartick, spannish-needles
Por: beijo-de-moça, bidens-beijo-de-moça, carrapicho-agulha, carrapicho-de-agulha, carrapicho-de-duas-pontas, cuambú, picão
Hun: farkasfogfaj
Swe: flikskära
Est: sulgruse
Cym: graban dwyasgellog
En: Spanish-needles, Hemlock beggar-ticks, Spanish needles, Bipinnate beggar-ticks, Bipinnate cobbler’s pegs, Blackjack, Spanish blackjack, Spanish needles beggartick, Bipinnate Beggartick, Spannish-Needles, Spanish needles beggar-ticks
Af: Knapse kêrel, Spaanse knapsekêrel
Ar: ابرة الأندلس
Zh: Po po zhen, 鬼針
Et: Sulgruse
Fr: Herbe à aiguilles, Herbe aiguille, Bident bipenné, Bident à feuilles bipennées, Bident deux fois penné
Ff: Kuri pallaaɗi
De: Fiederblättriger Zweizahn, Fiederblatt- Zweizahn
Hu: Farkasfogfaj
It: Forbicina bipinnata, Forbicina bipennata
Ko: 도깨비바늘
Pt: Beijo-de-moça, Carrapicho-agulha, Beigo-de-moça, Picão, Bidens-beijo-de-moça, Carrapicho-de-agulha, Carrapicho-de-duas-pontas, Cuambú
Sv: Flikskära
Zh-tw: 鬼針
Cy: Graban dwyasgellog

Synonyms

• Bidens cynapiifolia var. portoricensis ((Spreng.) O.E.Schulz)
• Bidens wallichii (DC.)
• Bidens myrrhidifolia (Tausch)
• Bidens bipinnata var. simplicior (F.Muell.)
• Bidens portoricensis (Spreng. ex DC.)
• Kerneria bipinnata (Gren. & Godr.)
• Bidens decomposita (Wall. ex DC.)
• Bidens pilosa var. bipinnata ((L.) Hook.f.)
• Bidens elongata (Tausch)
• Bidens pilosa var. decomposita ((Wall. ex DC.) Hook.f.)
• Bidens bipinnata var. biternatoides (Sherff)
• Bidens bipinnata var. minor (Memm.)
• Bidens cicutifolia (Tausch)

Distribution

• Alabama (native)
• Arizona (native)
• Arkansas (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• Florida (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• New Brunswick (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Ontario (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Virginia (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Assam (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• Belgium (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Botswana (introduced)
• Brazil North (introduced)
• Brazil Northeast (introduced)
• Brazil South (introduced)
• Brazil Southeast (introduced)
• Brazil West-Central (introduced)
• Bulgaria (introduced)
• Burkina (introduced)
• Cambodia (introduced)
• Cameroon (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• China North-Central (introduced)
• China South-Central (introduced)
• China Southeast (introduced)
• Colombia (introduced)
• Cyprus (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• East Aegean Is. (introduced)
• East Himalaya (introduced)
• Egypt (introduced)
• France (introduced)
• Free State (introduced)
• Germany (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Hainan (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hungary (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Inner Mongolia (introduced)
• Italy (introduced)
• Ivory Coast (introduced)
• Japan (introduced)
• Korea (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Lesotho (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Mali (introduced)
• Manchuria (introduced)
• Mauritania (introduced)
• Namibia (introduced)
• Nepal (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New Guinea (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Northern Territory (introduced)
• Pakistan (introduced)
• Philippines (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Romania (introduced)
• Saudi Arabia (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Sicilia (introduced)
• Spain (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• Switzerland (introduced)
• Taiwan (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Tibet (introduced)
• Togo (introduced)
• Transcaucasus (introduced)
• Vietnam (introduced)
• West Himalaya (introduced)
• Western Australia (introduced)
• Yugoslavia (introduced)
• Zaïre (introduced)
• Zimbabwe (introduced)

Additional Images

Fruit

Taken Sep 7, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 21, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 21, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Sep 11, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 11, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jan 8, 2020 by Renaud Brochiero (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 25, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 5, 2017 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jun 13, 2021 by Gert Neumann (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 13, 2018 by Manu Pacha (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Nov 12, 2015 by EOL − Lindsey K. Wise (cc-by-nc)

Taken Oct 8, 2011 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 18, 2008 by EOL − Keir Morse (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 17, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Aug 15, 2014 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2014 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Aug 15, 2014 by Photoflora – Benoit BOCK (©)

Taken Jan 1, 1970 by Photoflora – L’Abbé COSTE (©)

Taken Nov 23, 2019 by M.angeles Basurte (cc-by-sa)

© 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.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5389402)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:184769-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Bidens bipinnata L.)

Specifications

Growth