Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 5392174

Devil's Beggarticks

Bidens frondosa

Also known as Sticktights, Devil's Pitchfork, Bur Marigold, Leafy Beggarticks

Devil's beggarticks thrives in damp wetlands, drainage ditches, and riverbanks, producing modest flower heads encircled by prominent, leafy green bracts. Each flat seed bears two barbed prongs resembling a pitchfork, designed to latch securely into animal fur and hiker clothing for effortless hitchhiking. This clever dispersal strategy has allowed this opportunistic annual to spread far beyond its native North American waterways into moist habitats across the globe.

WetlandFloweringHerbaceous
Devil's Beggarticks reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Andrew Conboy, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotroph (Photosynthetic)
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Marsh Rabbit
  • Leaf Beetles
ThreatsWetland drainage, prolonged drought, and widespread herbicide use
HabitatsMarshes, riverbanks, muddy shores, roadside ditches, and damp waste ground
Life span1 year (annual)
Classification
  1. OrderAsterales
  2. FamilyAsteraceae
  3. GenusBidens
  4. SpeciesBidens frondosa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Clothing Awareness: Expect barbed seeds to cling stubbornly to socks and pet fur in autumn.
  • Identification: Look for divided leaves with three to five distinct, sharply toothed leaflets.
Related species
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