beggar's tick

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• hairy beggarticks
• Black-Jack
• Spanish-needles
• beggar-ticks
• cobblers'-pegs
• hairy beggar-ticks
• hairy bidens
• Cobblers' Pegs
• Common Black Jack
• New Zealand cow-itch
• Widowers
• blackjack
• cobbler's peg
• cobbler's pegs
• Beggar's tick

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Kerneria pilosa
• Bidens pilosa var. minor
• Coreopsis multifida var. mutica
• Cosmea pilosa
• Bidens pilosa f. minor
• Bidens pilosa f. calcicola
• Ceratocephalus pilosus
• Bidens pilosa f. subsimplicifolia
• Bidens pilosa f. bimucronata
• Bidens pilosa f. scandicina
• Bidens pilosa f. monophylla
• Bidens pilosa f. simplex
• Bidens pilosa f. triaristata
• Bidens pilosa f. dondiifolia
• Bidens pilosa f. umbrosa
• Coreopsis odorata
• Bidens africana
• Bidens arenaria
• Bidens aurantiaca
• Bidens californica
• Bidens caracasana
• Bidens bimucronata
• Bidens hirta
• Bidens paleacea
• Kerneria dubia
• Glossogyne chinensis
• Coreopsis corymbifolia
• Bidens pilosa f. indivisa
• Bidens rosea var. calcicola
• Bidens pilosa var. subbiternata
• Bidens reflexa
• Bidens ododrata
• Bidens pilosa f. odorata
• Bidens chilensis
• Bidens sundaica var. minor
• Bidens alausensis
• Bidens hispida
• Bidens chilensis var. apiifolia
• Bidens pilosa var. apiifolia
• Bidens pilosa var. bimucronata
• Bidens pilosa var. dubia
• Bidens pilosa var. brevifoliata
• Bidens striata
• Bidens sundaica
• Bidens taquetii
• Bidens valparadisiaca
• Bidens viciosoi
• Bidens odorata var. calcicola
• Bidens montaubani
• Bidens orendainae
• Bidens pilosa var. calcicola
• Bidens abadiae var. pilosoides
• Bidens leucanthema var. pilosa
• Bidens pilosa f. ternata
• Bidens pilosa f. pilosior
• Bidens pilosa f. subbiternata
• Bidens pilosa f. alausensis
• Bidens leucanthema var. sundaica
• Bidens pilosa var. alausesis
• Bidens tripartita subsp. hirta
• Bidens ciliata
• Bidens pilosa var. kraussii
• Bidens odorata
• Bidens adhaerescens
• Bidens pilosa f. dissecta
• Bidens pilosa f. pinnata
• Bidens barrancae
• Bidens abadiae
• Bidens scandicina

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Asterales and the family Asteraceae. It is specifically identified by the genus Bidens, which includes the species Bidens pilosa.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution across several European regions. In Northern Europe, it can be found growing within the borders of Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, its presence is noted in Belgium, Germany, and Poland. Furthermore, the species extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically inhabiting the Baleares. This wide range demonstrates the plant's ability to adapt to various European climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Bidens pilosa is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse environments, ranging from highly disturbed anthropogenic areas to the more complex ecosystems of the Seasonal Deciduous Forest (Floresta Estacional Decidual). This species demonstrates a broad altitudinal distribution, thriving at elevations starting from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 3100 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range centered around 2000 m AMSL. This wide vertical range allows it to colonize various ecological niches, transitioning from lowland human-impacted landscapes to high-altitude montane habitats.

Elevational range max:

3100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica, Floresta Estacional Decidual

Genetics

The genetics of Bidens pilosa are characterized by significant cytogenetic complexity and variability, most notably evidenced by its fluctuating chromosome numbers. Research has documented a wide range of somatic chromosome counts within the species, including 24, 36, 46, 48, 72, and 76. This variation suggests a high degree of genomic plasticity and is often associated with different cytotypes or geographic populations. Despite this numerical diversity, the plant frequently exhibits a ploidy level of 2, indicating a diploid state in many studied instances, though the wide spectrum of chromosome numbers often points toward underlying polyploidization events or complex chromosomal rearrangements that contribute to its evolutionary adaptability.

Chromosome number :

24, 36, 46, 48, 72, 76

Ploidy :

2

Life history

The life history of Bidens pilosa is characterized by an annual lifecycle, meaning it completes its entire biological process from germination to seed production within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the plant survives unfavorable environmental conditions by completing its development quickly and relying on a seed bank for persistence. Its growth habit is strictly deciduous, shedding its foliage as it reaches the end of its seasonal cycle.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Bidens pilosa is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb, typically functioning as a self-supporting, independent plant that does not rely on other organisms as a parasite or epiphyte. As a terrestrial species, it maintains an erect shoot orientation and lacks any climbing or vine-like tendencies. The plant exhibits significant variability in stature, with a height ranging from a minimum of 0 m up to a maximum of 1.8 m, though it reaches a mean height of approximately 0.65 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.65 m

Plant height min:

0 m

Shoot orientation :

erect

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Bidens pilosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy that dictates its carbon fixation processes. The plant's vegetative structure features an opposite leaf arrangement, with leaves that are non-succulent in nature. Morphologically, the leaves exhibit an elliptic form, with dimensions varying significantly across the plant; while the mean leaf length is 3.25 cm, individual leaves can range from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 13.5 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width shows a mean of 2 cm, with minimum measurements of 1.5 cm and maximum widths reaching up to 8 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability to support its physiological development.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

13.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.25 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

Reproduction in Bidens pilosa is primarily achieved through sexual means, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate genetic diversity, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. The flowering cycle is extensive, typically beginning in August and continuing through to May, with flower widths ranging from 0.7 cm to 1.5 cm and presenting in a white color. Pollination is a biotic process driven by insects, specifically involving bees. Following successful pollination, the plant produces dry, indehiscent fruits known as achenes, which are black in color. These fruits vary in size, with a mean length of 0.85 cm (ranging from 0.6 cm to 1.6 cm) and a consistent width of approximately 0.1 cm. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing between 101 and 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves have a mean length of 7 mm and a mean volume of 1.5 mm³, with a mean mass of approximately 0.00221 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.00114 g to a maximum of 0.00424 g). Dispersal is categorized as zoochorous, specifically via an epizoochorous syndrome, meaning the seeds are effectively spread by attaching to passing animals. No asexual reproduction methods are present in this species.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

epizoochorous

Flower colour :

white

Flower width max:

1.5 cm

Flower width min:

0.7 cm

Flowering time :

Aug

Flowering time :

May

Fruit colour :

black

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

1.6 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.85 cm

Fruit length min:

0.6 cm

Fruit type :

achene

Fruit width max:

0.1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

7 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00424 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00221014275 g

Seed mass min:

0.00114 g

Seed volume max:

1.5 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Bidens pilosa has 4 reported plant parts identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, flower, root.

Leaf

1. Scientific reports
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Parasites, hosts and diseases
4. Planta medica
5. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Stem

1. Parasites, hosts and diseases
2. Phytochemistry

Flower

1. Parasites, hosts and diseases

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Bidens pilosa has 107 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, Tannins, Flavonoid, Phenols.

Flavonoids

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of pharmaceutical investigation
3. Acta tropica
4. Pharmaceutical biology
5. Planta medica

Saponins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. F1000Research
3. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
4. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Tannins

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. F1000Research
4. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Flavonoid

1. Food chemistry
2. Cells
3. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Phenols

1. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Parasites, hosts and diseases
3. F1000Research

linoleic acid

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

CALCIUM

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
2. Biological trace element research

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
2. Scientific reports

COPPER

1. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica
2. Biological trace element research

Cytopiloyne

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Activities

Bidens pilosa has 170 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Cytotoxic, Anticancer.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Anticancer research
3. Food chemistry
4. Frontiers in pharmacology
5. Journal of pharmaceutical investigation

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Food chemistry
3. Acta poloniae pharmaceutica

Antidiabetic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Pharmaceutics
3. Acta pharmaceutica Hungarica

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Biomedical chromatography : BMC
3. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Antifungal

1. Scientific reports
2. Phytochemistry

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Antinociceptive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antiseptic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytochemistry

Conditions

Bidens pilosa has 52 reported investigations on conditions identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, hypertension, malaria, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans.

Cancer

1. Cells
2. Pharmaceutics
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hypertension

1. Natural products and bioprospecting
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology
3. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Malaria

1. Journal of parasitology research
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Bacillus subtilis

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Candida albicans

1. Zhurnal mikrobiologii, epidemiologii i immunobiologii

Chagas disease

1. Parasites, hosts and diseases

Enterococcus faecalis

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Escherichia coli

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Lactobacillus acidophilus

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Leishmaniasis

1. Pharmaceutical biology

Preparations

Bidens pilosa has 41 reported preparations identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include whole plant, aqueous extracts, extracts, Aqueous extracts, BPE.

Whole plant

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Frontiers in pharmacology
3. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts

1. Journal of trace elements in medicine and biology : organ of the Society for Minerals and Trace Elements (GMS)
2. PloS one

Extracts

1. Journal of parasitology research
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aqueous extracts

1. Natural product communications

Bpe

1. Fish & shellfish immunology

Bidens pilosa infusion

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chcl3 extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Extract

1. Anticancer research

Heptonica

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Hexane extract of its leaves

1. Saudi journal of biological sciences