Species

Bidens pilosa

Etymology

Bidens: From the Latin bi- 'two' and dens 'teeth;, the seed having two tooth-like projections

Common Name(s)

cobblers' pegs

Family

Asteraceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

NVS Species Code

BIDPIL

The National Vegetation Survey (NVS) Databank is a physical archive and electronic databank containing records of over 94,000 vegetation survey plots - including data from over 19,000 permanent plots. NVS maintains a standard set of species code abbreviations that correspond to standard scientific plant names from the Ngä Tipu o Aotearoa - New Zealand Plants database.

Structural Class

Dicotyledonous Herbs - Composites

Similar Taxa

This annual plant grows up to around 1.5 - 2 m tall. There are 3 -5 leaflets, which are tapered ovals with serrated margins. They are bright green, slightly hairy and on brown stems with parallel ridges. The numerous terminal flowers are yellow in a tightly packed head (approximately 7 mm across). (Ermert and Clapp 1998)

Flower Colours

Yellow

Year Naturalised

1832

Origin

unknown

Reason For Introduction
Accidental

Dispersal
The 'Cobbler's pegs' are the seeds, which are dark brown or black, slender and have barbed ends, which allows them to catch in material or fur. The pegs are in a ball or starburst formation on the plant with the barbs on the outer edge. (Ermert and Clapp 1998)

This page last updated on 18 Jan 2010