Bidens frondosa L.
Beggar's ticks (Bidens frondosa) is a short-lived, annual herb that is native to North America. It was introduced to New Zealand as a contaminant of crop seed and was first recorded in the wild (naturalised) in 1970. The plant grows up to about 1.5 metres tall and has erect, branching stems and leaves divided into three to five toothed leaflets. It flowers from January to May, producing small flower heads with yellow centres and usually no ray petals, which develop into black seeds with two barbed awns. It tolerates damp conditions, flooding and a range of soil types. It reproduces by seed. Seeds are dispersed by water, animals and human activities. The barbed seeds readily attach to fur, feathers and clothing.
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