Friday, October 28, 2016

Sticktights


At this time of the year you will probably find your shoes, shoelaces, pantlegs and shirtsleeves covered with Beggar's Ticks after a walk through the woods or an unmown field.

The Beggar Ticks (Bidens frondosa and Bidens vulgata) grow in waste places and disturbed soils.  The produce inconspicuous pale-yellow to orange flowers in the late summer and early fall.

They are also known as Sticktights, as their seeds (called achenes), with two tiny spikes (called awns) that are covered with tiny barbs, literally stick tight to everything -- including the fur of animals.  This allows the seeds to be transported long distances.