Three-Parted Beggarticks, Three-Lobed Beggarticks, Threelobe Beggarticks, Burr Marigold, Swamp Beggarticks

Bidens tripartita

BY-denz  try-par-TEE-uh

Synonyms of Bidens tripartita (33) (Updated on 11-21-22 from Plants of the World Online): Bidens acuta Britton (1901), Bidens bullata L. (1753), Bidens cannabina Lam. (1779), Bidens comosa (A.Gray) Wiegand (1897), Bidens comosa var. acuta Jeps. (1899), Bidens connata var. comosa A.Gray (1867), Bidens effusa Thuill. ex Sherff (1937)(pro syn.), Bidens fastigiata Michalet (1854), Bidens frondosa Buch.-Ham. ex Hook.f. (1881)(sensu auct.), Bidens hybrida Thuill. (1799),Bidens intermedia Opiz ex Nyman (1879), Bidens minor (Wimm. & Grab.) Vorosch. (1949), Bidens minuscula Leveille Vaniot (1910), Bidens nodiflora L. (1753), Bidens nudiflora Steud. (1840)(orth. var.), Bidens orientalis Velen. ex Bornm. (1888), Bidens platycephala Oerst. (1859), Bidens pumila Steud. (1821), Bidens repens D.Don (1825), Bidens shimadae Hayata (1919), Bidens trifida Roxb. (1832), Bidens trifoliata Gueldenst. ex Ledeb. (1845), Bidens tripartita subsp. bullata (L.) Rouy (1903), Bidens tripartita var. cernuifolia Sherff (1929), Bidens tripartita subsp. comosa (A.Gray) A.Haines (2010), Bidens tripartita var. hybrida (Thuill.) Mérat (1812), Bidens tripartita var. minima Huds. (1778), Bidens tripartita var. minor Hartm. (1820), Bidens tripartita var. minor Hartm. (1820), Bidens tripartita var. orientalis (Velen.) Stoj. & Stef. (1925), Bidens tripartita var. pumila Roth (1788), Bidens tripartita var. repens (D.Don) Sherff (1926), Bidens tripartita var. shimadae (Hayata) Yamam. (1936)

Bidens tripartita L. is the accepted scientific name for this species of Beggarticks. The genus and species were both named and described as such by Carl von Linnaeus in the second volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753.

As of 11-21-22 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online lists 222 species in the Bidens genus. It is a member of the plant family Asteraceae with 1,689 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

 The above distribution map for Bidens tripartita is from Plants of the World Online. Areas in green are where the species is native and green where it has been introduced. The map on the USDA Plants Database for the United States and Canada is somewhat different for Canada.

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A POSITIVE ID.

So, this plant started growing in the northeast corner flower bed in 2022 and I had no idea what it was. I took several photos and uploaded them to iNaturalist and the top suggestion was Bidens frondosa. Here on the farm, the other species that is similar was the Bidens connata (Purple-Stemmed Beggarticks) I found near the pond in the back pasture in 2019. The other two species, B. aristosa (Tickseed Sunflower) and B. bipinnata (Spanish Needles) have much different leaves. As the plant grew, I did further research and found out the species was actually Bidens tripartita, which is very similar.

It may sound a little strange to let one of “those” beggarticks grow in the flower bed, but I needed photos for this site. 🙂 Besides, I thought, I could always pull it up when it starts going to seed…

The preferred common name appears to be Three-Parted Beggarticks which has nothing to do with its nice dark green leaves. Other common names include Three-Lobed Beggarticks, Threelobe Beggarticks, Burr Marigold, Swamp Beggarticks, and probably others. When I walk through an area with beggarticks or any kind of stick-tight, I use a different name which is likely very common from the lips of many…

Before I continue, I want to apologize for not writing proper descriptions while I put together this page. I always update pages, make new pages, and write descriptions over the winter, and writing descriptions is the hardest part. To be honest, I have pages that have been waiting for descriptions for two years. 🙂 So, I am just uploading the photos for now, making a few comments along the way. There are links to several very good websites below that have great descriptions (in technical terminology). I will get to writing them in “layman’s terms” at some point.

I always take a lot of photos because it makes it better to make a proper identification. Since I joined iNaturalist, I upload the observation with as many photos as I need for other members to agree with the species name. Once a member agrees, sometimes two, the observation becomes Research Grade which is what we strive for. It becomes very addictive. 🙂 Naturally, I put all the photos on this site which is also addictive. 🙂 🙂

The above photo was one that led me to think perhaps this plant was a Bidens frondosa. Even though there were other indications that said differently, I stuck with it for a while.

 

By September 11 (2022), there were a few flowers. Now we are getting somewhere!

 

Hmmm… I clearly didn’t need that photo.

So, I take the same photos of stems, leaves, etc. every time I take photos of the plant. Ummm… Some species year after year. That may sound weird, but I can’t help myself.

Ahh, here’s a new one. The underside of a leaf… That’s also important, you know.

The leafy bracts under the flower head are also an important feature.

How about a close-up?

How about a little closer?

That’s as close as I can get for now. The rest were too blurry…

By October 8 when the above photo was taken, the plant was looking a bit straggly from wind and rain. But there were A LOT more flowers. It is hard to imagine this is just a single plant.

In fact, it was LOADED with flowers!

The main stem had become very thick and somewhat woody.

Again…

And again…

By now you know where this is going…

Getting closer…

There it is again. Some day I will get a more powerful camera to take close-ups without a magnifying glass (sometimes two). So, where does the common name “Three-Parted” come from? You can clearly see the yellow disc flowers have four lobes. While that is a distinguishing feature since other species of Bidens with simple leaves have five, it still doesn’t say where “Three-Parted” comes in… The species name “tripartita” means “having three parts”. It could refer to the seeds having three awns (barbs)… Well, I haven’t taken photos of those yet… 🙂 OK, it is likely because some of the leaves can be deeply three-lobed. BUT, this plant didn’t have any three-lobed leaves. 🙂 Hmmm…

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA (GENUS/SPECIES)
WORLD FLORA ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
MSU-MIDWEST WEEDS AND WILDFLOWERS
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
MINNESOTA WILDFLOWERS
PFAF (PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
GO BOTANY
LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER
OREGON FLORA
MARYLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
SIBERIAN CEDAR LAND
USEFUL TEMPERATE PLANTS

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is the most reliable and up-to-date plant database and they make updates on a regular basis. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂