Scientific Family
Asteraceae
Other common names
smooth bidens
smooth bur marigold
larger bur marigold
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual
Similar species
Bidens sp.
Height
1 to 6 feet
Riparian
Yes
A golden yellow herbaceous annual, sometimes seeded into floating mats of other vegatation or may also form mats that float.
Wedge-shaped akenes distinguish this species from other Bidens . This species is found in meadows, marshes, and
margins of pools, streams, estuaries which also distinguishes it from other Bidens sp.
Habitat
Prefers cool, moist areas. Scattered in wet areas, ponds, streams, meadows, marshes, and margins of pools, streams, estuaries.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
0
High elevation
9100
Flower Characteristics
The inflorescence bears one or more flower heads which bend down as they become heavy with fruit after flowering. Each head has a
center of yellow disc florets and a fringe of 7 or 8 yellow ray florets, each about an inch long.
Flower color
Yellow
Flower shape
Daisy or dandelion-like
Tubular
No
First bloom month
August
Last bloom month
October
Flower clusters
Rounded
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
The leaves are narrow, lance-shaped, with serrated margins and pointed tips. Basal stems are cylindric, upper stems hexagonal.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Narrow
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
Yes
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
The fruit is a sharply barbed achene.
Fruit type
Achene
Fruit color
brown