Bidens alba
| Bidens alba | |
|---|---|
| |
| Photo taken by Michelle Smith | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida - Dicotyledons |
| Order: | Asterales |
| Family: | Asteraceae ⁄ Compositae |
| Genus: | Bidens |
| Species: | B. alba |
| Binomial name | |
| Bidens alba (L.) DC. | |
| |
| Natural range of Bidens alba from USDA NRCS Plants Database. | |
Common name: Romerillo
Contents
Taxonomic notes
Description
B. alba is a weedy annual or a short lived perennial that has vertical roots [1] [2]. Leaves are arranged opposite with depressed midveins [1].
Distribution
Ecology
Habitat
In the Coastal Plain in Florida, B. alba can be found in pine-oak woodlands (FSU Herbarium). It has been found to be common in disturbed areas such as railroads, citrus orchards, soil dumps and empty lots (FSU Herbarium; Ramirez et al. 2012). It has been observed to grow in loamy sand (FSU Herbarium). Associated species include Andropogon, Euphorbia, and Ambrosia (FSU Herbarium).
Phenology
It has been recorded flowering January and May through November (FSU Herbarium).
Seed dispersal
The seed has two prongs that stick on to passing by animals, making dispersal zoochorous [2].
Seed bank and germination
Under cooler conditions, newly added seeds in the seed bank have a slightly higher germination rates than seeds that have resided in the seed bank for a longer time (Ramirez et al. 2012). Germination has also been observed at a wide range of temperatures, pH and salt concentrations; however, is inhibited at highly acidic and moderately alkaline soils and extreme water stress (Ramirez et al. 2012). Germination is not sensitive to light (Ramirez et al. 2012).
Fire ecology
Pollination
The following Hymenoptera families and species were observed visiting flowers of Bidens alba at Archbold Biological Station (Deyrup 2015):
Apidae: Apis mellifera, Bombus impatiens, B. pennsylvanicus, Mellisodes communis, M. comptoides, Nomada fervida
Halictidae: Agapostemon splendens, Augochlora pura, Augochlorella aurata, A. gratiosa, Augochloropsis metallica, Dieunomia heteropoda, Halictus poeyi, Lasioglossum pectoralis
Megachilidae: Anthidiellum notatum rufomaculatum, A. perplexum, Coelioxys dolichos, C. modesta, C. octodentata, C. sayi, Dolichostelis louisae, Heriades leavitti, Megachile albitarsis, M. brevis pseudobrevis, M. exilis parexilis, M. inimica, M. mendica, M. petulans, M. rugifrons, M. xylocopoides
Sphecidae: Ammophila pictipennis, A. urnaria, Bicyrtes capnoptera, Cerceris blakei, Isodontia exornata, Microbembex monodonta, Philanthus ventilabris
Vespidae: Eumenes smithii, Pachodynerus erynnis, Stenodynerus fundatiformis
Use by animals
Diseases and parasites
Crypticerya genistae is an invasive scale insect native to Brazil and is found in association with B. alba (Hodges et al. 2008).
Conservation and Management
Cultivation and restoration
Photo Gallery
Bidens alba with seeds Photo by Michelle Smith
References and notes
Deyrup, M.A. 2015. Database of observations of Hymenoptera visitations to flowers of plants on Archbold Biological Station, Florida, USA.
Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: October 2015. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Ed Keppner, Lisa Keppner, R. Kral, Annie Schmidt, Kyle W. Shankle. States and Counties: Florida: Bay, Gulf, Indian River, Leon, Liberty, Martin, Wakulla. Compiled by Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.
