How Does Bidens Pilosa Spread Its Seeds? A Full Explanation of Its Dispersal Methods
Bidens pilosa, also known as "sticky seed" or "forked herb," is a common weed found in wastelands and along roadsides, and it is a commonly used herb in folk medicine. So how does Bidens pilosa spread its seeds?
1. How does Bidens pilosa spread its seeds?
Bidens pilosa spreads its seeds by wind, flowing water and feces, and they germinate after overwintering dormancy. The fruits produced by Bidens pilosa are black, slightly flattened, with sparse wart-like protrusions and bristles on the surface. When people or animals touch them, they easily stick to the body and are very hard to remove.
2. What varieties of Bidens pilosa are there?
1. Bidens bipinnata
One of the most distinctive features of Bidens bipinnata is that its leaves show trifoliolate compound leaf division or pinnate division. The leaf margins are coarsely serrated, and the leaf blade is generally linear. The fruit generally grows to about three to four centimeters or millimeters, and the fruit is rather slender. The whole plant can be used as medicine for detoxification and reducing inflammation. It is mainly distributed in places such as Heilongjiang and Jilin.
2. Bidens cernua
Bidens cernua is currently a very common variety and is planted in most regions of our country. Its leaf blade is very similar to willow leaves, so it is called Bidens cernua. Its leaf margins are also serrated, but the serrations are relatively sparse. The fruit generally grows to five or six millimeters, larger than the fruit of Bidens bipinnata, and it can be used medicinally, often for detoxification and resolving blood stasis.
3. Bidens pilosa var. radiata
Bidens pilosa var. radiata is a variety of Bidens pilosa. Its main difference from Bidens pilosa is the flower. Its flowers are white ligulate flowers, six or seven millimeters long and four or five centimeters wide, and it can also be used as medicine. Its fruit is black and can grow to about twelve or thirteen millimeters. In our country, it is mainly planted in regions such as East China, South China and Southwest China.