Spanish Needles

Spanish needles in bloom (photo by Kate St. John)

These small yellow flowers look innocent, but after they’re fertilized the central disk grows longer and develops into hard, brown seeds.

 

The seeds splay out as they dry. Each one is topped by a tiny pitchfork of two to four spikes with downward-facing barbs.

Sanish needles gone to seed (photo by Kate St. John)

The needle-like seeds detach easily from the plant…

 

… and stick to my sweater.

Spanish needles on my sweater (photo by Kate St. John)

That’s when I noticed the plant.

 

The Spanish Needles plant (Bidens bipinnata) is so annoying I was sure it was an alien invasive.  Not!  It’s a native annual that’s very adaptable, willing to grow in disturbed soil in vacant lots.  These seeds grabbed me on Winthrop Street in Oakland.

Bidens bipinnata has many hitchhiker relatives in the Bidens genus.  I identified this one by its lobed leaves and needle-like seeds.

 

(photos by Kate St. John)

8 thoughts on “Spanish Needles

    1. I have the flowering plant in my backyard now Spanish needles bout 3 ‘ high . I live in Bethlehem, PA.

  1. This plant took over & destroyed my garden.It went to seed…Do I have to dig out & replace my soil for next year?

    1. Brendan, Spanish needles are only an annual so if you prevent the seeds from falling in your garden you will have much less of it next year. The truck is to keep the seeds from falling.

  2. Now that I’m older, these seeds go right into my skin. Removing one triggers the seed’s barbs (awns) to shoot out into my skin. The largest one pops back out of my skin up to 3 inches away, followed by two curved rows of what look and feel like black needles form a near perfect oval of pain. They last for months and leave gnarly scars, The ones that only travel about half an inch form two tightly spaced rows of spiky awns that gradually form a deep wound that resembles a tick in your skin. I believe this is the true reason they were originally called beggars ticks, as poor people had nowhere to sleep except on the ground.

    1. jsal, I believe you are describing something other than this plant. Spanish needles, though called “needles” are not sharp. They are hitch-hikers that stick to clothing. I wonder what you have encountered.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *