Beggar-ticks
Bidens pilosa
Synonyms: Bidens hirsuta, Bidens reflexa, Bidens pilosa f. indivisa, Bidens taquetii, Bidens adhaerescens, Cosmea pilosa, Coreopsis leucantha, Bidens pilosa f. pilosior, Bidens africana, Bidens abadiae var. pilosoides, Bidens californica, Bidens pilosa subvar. discoidea, Bidens barrancae, Bidens pilosa f. simplex, Bidens pilosa f. minor, Bidens pilosa var. calcicola, Bidens paleacea, Bidens montaubani, Coreopsis multifida var. mutica, Bidens pilosa var. minor, Bidens pilosa f. subbiternata, Bidens pilosa f. monophylla, Bidens sundaica var. minor, Bidens viciosoi, Bidens arenaria, Bidens abadiae, Bidens hispida, Bidens alausensis, Bidens hirta, Bidens striata, Bidens pinnata, Bidens scandicina, Bidens chilensis, Bidens aurantiaca, Bidens leucanthema var. pilosa, Cosmos pinnatus, Bidens chilensis var. apiifolia, Bidens pilosa var. apiifolia, Bidens pilosa var. alausesis, Bidens pilosa f. pinnata, Bidens odorata, Bidens rosea var. calcicola, Bidens odorata var. calcicola, Bidens pilosa f. alausensis, Bidens pilosa f. bimucronata, Bidens caracasana, Bidens pilosa f. ternata, Bidens pilosa f. dondiifolia, Bidens bimucronata, Kerneria dubia, Bidens pilosa f. umbrosa, Kerneria pilosa, Glossogyne chinensis, Bidens pilosa f. calcicola, Coreopsis odorata, Bidens tripartita subsp. hirta, Bidens decussata, Kerneria tetragona, Bidens pilosa var. subbiternata, Bidens pilosa f. odorata, Bidens pilosa f. discoidea, Bidens pilosa f. triaristata, Bidens pilosa var. brevifoliata, Bidens pilosa f. scandicina, Bidens pilosa var. dubius, Bidens valparadisiaca, Coreopsis corymbifolia, Bidens pilosa var. discoidea, Ceratocephalus pilosus, Bidens sundaica, Kerneria pilosa var. discoidea, Bidens pilosa f. dissecta, Bidens pilosa var. bimucronata, Bidens orendainae, Bidens abadiae var. typica, Bidens pilosa var. typica, Bidens ododrata, Bidens pilosa f. subsimplicifolia
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Bidens pilosa, the beggar-ticks or hairy beggarticks, is a pantropical annual herb of the Asteraceae family, considered native to tropical America and now naturalised throughout the warmer regions of the world. It grows erect to a metre or more, with a slender, four-angled, branching stem that is sparsely hairy. The opposite leaves are pinnately divided into three or five ovate, toothed leaflets. The flowerheads, borne on slender peduncles in loose terminal corymbs, are small, with a few white ray florets surrounding a disc of yellow tubular florets, the whole subtended by green linear bracts. The fruits are slender, black, four-angled achenes about a centimetre long, each tipped with two to four barbed awns that cling tenaciously to fur and clothing, giving the plant its common name.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
Throughout tropical Latin America the leaf juice is applied to dress wounds and ulcers, and leaf decoctions are taken as anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, and gastrointestinal remedies (PFAF). The young leaves are also eaten as a leaf vegetable.
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.