Spanish Needles

Bidens bipinnata L.

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

▲▼ young plants

▲▼ flowering plants

▲ leaf

▲ inflorescence

▲ mature fruit (right) and developing fruit (left)

Spanish Needles: (pp. 88-89, Weeds of the Great Plains; mentioned on pp. 122-123, Weeds of the Northeast)

·         similar to devil's beggarticks

·         summer annual with opposite, finely divided (fernlike) leaves, grows 1-3' tall

·         flowers have yellow ray flowers, brown disk flowers, seeds mature to long, needle-like burs which attach to passing animals

·         found in waste areas, roadsides, field stubble