About Bidens vulgata Greene
Bidens vulgata Greene is a species of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family, with the common names big devils beggarticks and tall beggarticks. It is native to eastern and central North America, ranging from Nova Scotia to northern Georgia and extending west as far as the Rocky Mountains. It has been introduced to the West Coast of North America, as well as parts of Europe. This annual herb grows a hairy stem, which typically reaches 30 to 50 centimeters (12 to 20 inches) tall; it often grows much taller, exceeding 100 centimeters (39 inches). Its leaves are composed of several lance-shaped leaflets, each up to 8 centimeters long. The inflorescence produces several small flower heads. The centers of these heads hold yellow disc florets, with a fringe of 3 to 5 yellow ray florets that measure a few millimeters in length. Some flower heads do not have ray florets. The fruit is a flattened achene with two sharp barbs at one of its ends. The species grows primarily in wet locations, such as swamps, marshes, and streambanks.
