Bidens subalternans

Greater Beggars Ticks at Theodore, ACT

Bidens subalternans at Theodore, ACT - 29 Feb 2020
Bidens subalternans at Theodore, ACT - 29 Feb 2020
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Identification history

Bidens subalternans 8 Mar 2020 MichaelMulvaney
Bidens subalternans 7 Mar 2020 michaelb
Bidens pilosa 1 Mar 2020 VeraKurz

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User's notes

A significant new infestation of this weed. Will try and remove them before flowering.

16 comments

michaelb wrote:
   2 Mar 2020
Hi Vera
I don't know what this plant is, but it doesn't look like Bidens pilosa. See
https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/bidens_pilosa.htm
However, I don't wish to discourage you from removing it if you think it is a nasty one.
VeraKurz wrote:
   3 Mar 2020
Hi Michael.
Thank you for checking. I noticed a few plants already gone to seed last year, with those slender dark seeds that we called 'farmers friends' as kids. Perhaps it is a different Bidens species? I will be interested if anyone else knows it, but I guess I can always see what it looks like as it gets bigger and flowers.
CathB wrote:
   3 Mar 2020
Image 11, of seedlings, in https://keyserver.lucidcentral.org/weeds/data/media/Html/bidens_pilosa.htm shows leaves that look like this, although the ones coming up on Mt Painter at the moment look quite different (sighting 4251671).
BettyDonWood wrote:
   3 Mar 2020
Whatever it is, it looks highly invasive.
I am inclined to think it probably is Bidens pilosa. There are a couple of photos at the two-leaves stage that look like this in the Flora of Australia monograph, though none like this at later stages. Unfortunately this description does not describe the leaves at a very early stage. https://profiles.ala.org.au/opus/foa/profile/Bidens%20pilosa
The other two species of Bidens in SE NSW, subalternans and tripartita, do not have leaves like this. Nor does the native species, Glossocardia bidens.
michaelb wrote:
   3 Mar 2020
Yes, thanks Cath, I see what you mean in image 11.

Vera, it would be useful to get photos of a plant with mature leaves.
Would you be able to wait till it grows a bit and submit some more photos so we can confirm for sure?
michaelb wrote:
   4 Mar 2020
Hi Vera
Yesterday I visited a patch of Bidens pilosa which I have been monitoring. See:
Daisy Bidens pilosa (Cobblers Pegs, Pitch-forks, Farmer's Friend) on 3 Mar 2020
The seedlings are similar, but the leaf shape is slightly different, and the colouring is markedly different to what you have here.
These do not look the same as Bidens pilosa.
However, I agree with Betty that it looks highly invasive.
Would you be able to wait till it grows a bit and submit some more photos so we can get a good ID?
VeraKurz wrote:
   4 Mar 2020
Thank you so much all.
Even the bigger seedlings still have the bipinnate leaves so I guess it does seem less likely to be the pilosa. There will be no problems getting photos later on, as there is actually quite a bit of it, probably half a hectare or more in size and much of this dense. I will submit more photos later.
Mike wrote:
   5 Mar 2020
Put the sighting on iNaturalist. Some overseas botanist may have more knowledge of these plants. If there are already more than 10000 plants early identification is essential.
michaelb wrote:
   5 Mar 2020
Thanks Vera
HarleyB wrote:
   5 Mar 2020
leaves look similar to some plants in the Paeoniaceae family. It would be good to post a location so more samples and pictures can be taken.
michaelb wrote:
   6 Mar 2020
Hi Harley
Thanks for your interest.
The location is invisible to you because it has not been ID'd yet. However, it is visible to Vera and moderators. Vera will be taking more photos later and following it thru.
mcosgrove wrote:
   6 Mar 2020
Hi Vera, is there a tree growing near these seedlings? They look a bit like seedlings of Melia azedarach (White Cedar) which sometimes germinate in large groups. Might be worth a check just to exclude it.
Mike wrote:
   6 Mar 2020
Compare with https://canberra.naturemapr.org/Community/Sightings/Details/4251977.
I went to the weed seed bank on Long Gully Road to take photos of both Bidens pilosa and Bidens subalternans.
michaelb wrote:
   7 Mar 2020
Thanks Mike, that is a likely answer.
VeraKurz wrote:
   7 Mar 2020
Mike, the picture of Bidens subalterns you posted looks exactly like the seedlings on Tugg Hill; that must be it. Thank you to everyone for identifying it.
michaelb wrote:
   9 Mar 2020
Hi Vera
We would still like to have some photos of plants that are more mature. That will help us to ID them more easily in the future. It would be great if you can do that.

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  • > 10,001 Abundance
  • 29 Feb 2020 05:30 PM Recorded on
  • VeraKurz Recorded by

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  • Less than 10cm Plant height

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