Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Order: Asterales
- Family: Asteraceae (the aster, daisy, or composite family)
- Genus: Bidens
- Species: B. laevis
- Authority: (L.) R.Br. ex DC.
Common names: Smooth beggartick, smooth beggar‑ticks, smooth tick‑seed.
Description
Bidens laevis is an annual herbaceous plant that typically reaches heights of 30–120 cm. The stems are erect, branching, and can be either glabrous or sparsely hairy. Leaves are opposite or alternate, ranging from 2–10 cm in length, with toothed margins and a generally lanceolate shape.
Inflorescences are composed of solitary or few capitula (flower heads) borne on short peduncles. Each capitulum contains numerous yellow ray florets surrounding a central disc of yellow disc florets. After pollination, the plant produces achene fruits equipped with a pair of barbed awns (the “bitts”), which facilitate attachment to animal fur and aid in seed dispersal.
Distribution and habitat
Bidens laevis is native to the eastern and central United States, with its core range extending across the Gulf Coastal Plains, the Mississippi River Valley, and parts of the southeastern Atlantic states. It is reported from states including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Missouri.
The species prefers moist, open habitats such as wet meadows, marsh edges, pond margins, floodplains, and disturbed sites (e.g., roadsides, agricultural fields). It thrives in sandy to loamy soils with periodic inundation but can tolerate a range of moisture conditions.
Ecology
- Pollination: Primarily visited by a variety of short‑tongued bees, butterflies, and other generalist insect pollinators attracted to the conspicuous yellow florets.
- Seed dispersal: The barbed awns of the achenes attach to the fur or feathers of mammals and birds, facilitating epizoochorous dispersal.
- Life cycle: As an annual, B. laevis germinates in spring, flowers in late summer to early fall, and produces seed before winter.
Conservation status
The species is generally considered secure throughout most of its range. Localized declines may occur in heavily urbanized or agriculturally intensified areas where suitable wet habitats have been lost. It is not listed as threatened or endangered at the federal level in the United States.
Uses and cultural significance
Bidens species, including B. laevis, have been noted in ethnobotanical records for occasional medicinal uses (e.g., topical poultices) by Indigenous peoples, although specific documented uses for B. laevis are limited. The plant is also recognized as a minor weed in cultivated fields and pastures due to its rapid growth and prolific seed production.
References
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America (vol. 21). New York and Oxford.
- USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 2023. PLANTS Database (https://plants.usda.gov).
- Weakley, A.S. 2022. Flora of the Southern United States. University of North Carolina Herbarium.
This entry reflects currently available encyclopedic information on Bidens laevis and is intended to provide a concise, factual overview.
