Beggarticks

Beggarticks, Bidens frondosa, now going to seed, was the subject of some naming confusion while in flower back in early September. Below's an example of earlier naming confusion. :-)

From The Therapeutic Gazette:

In the February number, page 49, is a communication in relation to the "cockle-burr." The editor adds it is Xanthium Strumarium and "the use is a new one."

Permit me to suggest that the doctor may have referred to Bidens Frondosa, which is very commonly called as if spelled "kuckel," and is in some parts of Indiana and Illinois as well as in Maryland pronounced "kawkle" and the heads-are called "kawkle burrs."...

[Dr. King may be right in his conjecture that the plant alluded to by Dr. Barnard was Bidens frondosa, rather than Xanthium Strumarium. One of the popular names of the "bidens," applied perhaps indifferently to several species, is cuckold or cuckolds (Am. Dispensatory—Cf. "Hobbes").

This native annual is considered an invasive threat in Europe. Curiously, it is not within the Massachusetts Noxious Weed List. Other common names for this species include: Common Tickseed, Devil's Bootjack, Devil's Pitchfork, Pitchfork Weed, Bur Marigold, Sticktights, and Tickseed Sunflower.

Brodie, William ed. The Therapeutic Gazette, New Series Volume 3 No 11. Detroit, November 15, 1882. 413. Web. Google Book Search. 17 Oct 2009.

Sticky Birds Sticky Burrs! (Beggar Ticks)

Beggar Ticks, Bidens frondosa, is another success story in the use of Newcomb's Wildflower Guide. With those leaflets, for a moment I thought I had a cannabis variant!


When I was a kid, I knew this plant by its barbed achenes that would stick to my green sweater. Back then I called them sticky birds (see comments below for the real story!). As the season progresses, I'll try to pick up some photos.


From Popular Science:

"It is strange how an interest is suddenly awakened about the most commonplace objects in life. We move for years among old, familiar things without giving them a passing thought, when all at once some subtle spell is cast about them, and they become vested with a charming interest. I have tramped many times though autumn woods and picked off the "stickers" with no good will, but today they strike me as more than "stickers". I have discovered an old friend among them."


Trotter, Spencer. Burs and Beggar's Ticks. Popular Science. Nov 1897. 68-9. Web. Google Book Search.