Field Guide
Shepherd's Needles
Bidens alba
Shepherd's Needles
Bidens alba
Bidens alba, which belongs to the family Asteraceae, is most commonly known as shepherd's needles, beggarticks, Spanish needles or butterfly needles. Bidens means two- toothed, describing the two projections found at the top of the seeds, and alba refers to the white ray florets. The flower is pretty but the plant is invasive and the seeds stick to your clothes. Butterflies love it.

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