Spanish Needles... butterflies love it. Walkers hate it!

Explore Nov 2, 2011 #118

Ah, depth of field. One of the great pleasures of photography!

This lovely weed daisy-like flower may be familiar as you walk through a field or pull weeds from your yard. But you may overlook it until you get home you're covered with its fierce stick-like little barbs and you have no idea where you got them. Now you know that this little plant is the culprit! Next time you're out walking or weeding stay clear of Spanish Needles!

This native plant is a summer annual about 2-5' tall; it is more or less erect and branches occasionally. The blooming period is late summer or early fall. Each flowerhead is replaced by a seedhead that is globoid in shape and about 1 inch across. The long narrow seeds (achenes) spread outward from the center in all directions. Each mature seed is linear in shape and has 2-4 short awns (awn defined- the bristle or beard of barley, oats, grasses or any similar bristlelike appendage at its tip.) Each tiny awn has downward-pointed barbs. The root system consists of a branching taproot. This plant spreads profusely by reseeding itself.

Known mostly as a weed, Spanish needles are an admirable nectar flower that attract many small butterflies like Hairstreaks and Blues and even larger species. They are a favorite of bees too.

Spanish Needles, Bidens bipinnata, Bidens pilosa Linnaeus, Aster family, Asteraceae
Arch Creek East Environmental Preserve, North Miami, FL
www.susanfordcollins.com

Taken in: United States / Florida / Coral Gables (show map)

Taken on: September 3, 2011

Tags:

Spanish Needle

Bidens bipinnata

aster

Asteraceae

Florida weed

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

blinkagain

COTH5

my_gear_and_me

ABigFave

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Camera: Nikon D3000, f/8.0, 1/100 sec, 28mm (=42mm), ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D3000
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.01 sec (1/100)
Focal Length:	28mm (35mm equivalent: 42mm)
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Auto, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer 6.1.7600.16385
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