*Bidens pilosa

Family Asteraceae

Cobbler’s peg, Pitch forks, Farmer’s friend

Woody annual herb to 1.5 m high. Longevity less than 1 year.

Flowers: White throughout the year.

Fruit: Achene with pappus of barbed awns, mature at any time.

Seed: Single plant can produce 3000-6000 seeds. Seeds dispersed by adhesion to fur and human clothing. Seeds reported to be capable of surviving up to 30 years in the soil.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Native of South America.
• Disturbed and roadside habitats.
• Occasional in disturbed, moist sites at the Australian Botanic Garden, minor weed.
• Killed by fire, and regenerates from soil stored seed.

Asterisk * indicates exotic species naturalised at the Australian Botanic Garden.