Spanish needles (species: Bidens bipinnata) in Cairns and Surrounds (Gaia Guide)
Cairns and Surrounds does not include Bidens bipinnata.
Bidens bipinnata
Spanish needles


©Anne: Flower of Bidens bipinnata at Lizard Island Research Station, Mar 2018.

©Anne: Bidens bipinnata at Lizard Island Research Station.

©Anne: Leaves of mature Bidens bipinnata at Lizard Island Research Station.

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Kingdom Plantae
Division Tracheophyta
Class Magnoliopsida
Order Asterales
Family Asteraceae
Genus Bidens
Species Bidens bipinnata

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Colours

              

Distinguishing features

Two species of Bidens have been reported from Lizard Island, Bidens bipinnata and Bidens pilosa (Colvill, 2004). They have similar flowers and "seeds" (really achenes) but the leaves are different (Brisbane City Council Weed Identification Tool, link below). Bidens bipinnata has leaves that are greatly divided (i.e. pinnatifid) while those of Bidens pilosa are toothed but not divided.

The highly pinnate species is the common one at Lizard Island and it's possible that the record of Bidens pilosa on the island is incorrect.

Size

  • Size data has not been obtained.

Synonyms

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Web resources

References

  • Byrnes, N.B., S.L. Everist, S.T. Reynolds, A. Specht and R.L. Specht (1977). The vegetation of Lizard Island, North Queensland, Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland, 88: 1-15. LIRS catalog number 3.
  • Colvill, A., M. Ahmet, S. Clag and B. Haigh (2004). Lizard Island fauna and flora sampling report,Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.. LIRS catalog number 10067.
  • De Sloover, J.R. and A.-L. Jacquemart (2008). Nymph Island (Great Barrier Reef, Qld., Australia): Flora and vegetation of a low wooded island, Scripta Botanica Belgica, 43: 1-88. LIRS catalog number 1210.