Spanish Needles

Bidens bipinnata

This native weed has attractive, finely-cut leaves, up to 8 inches long and doubly or triply compound, that branch off the main stems from top to bottom. The flowers are small (about 1/4 inch across) and yellow, with a few ray florets (petals) surrounding a disk that after blooming produces a packet of long achenes (seeds)--the 'needles'--each of which has four tiny barbs at the end, so they stick to fur or clothing of passing animals. These start in parallel but soon open out to assume a star-like or globe-like array of dark brown seeds.

1-4 feet, sun - partial sun.

Late Summer-Autumn (August-October).

  The 'needles' or seeds after blooming out.

10 September 2020.

Spanish Needles, 17 August 2020.

The small flower.

17 August 2020.