<h1>Spanish needles, Bidens cernua</h1>

Appearance:
Spanish Needles, Bidens cernua, is a flowering plant in the aster family, Asteraceae. It has simple, lanceolate leaves with toothed margins and bright yellow flower heads with ray florets and disc florets. The most recognizable feature of Spanish Needles is its fruit, which is a long, slender achene with barbed awns at the tip. These awns help to disperse the seeds by attaching to fur or clothing of animals that brush against the plant.

Habitat:
Bidens cernua is native to Eurasia and North America, but it has been introduced to many other parts of the world. It is a common weed found in disturbed areas, such as roadsides, fields, and wastelands.
Growth:
Spanish Needles is an annual plant that grows quickly and can reach a height of up to 3 feet. It reproduces by seed, and its seeds can remain viable in the soil for many years.
Uses:
Spanish Needles is not considered to be a desirable plant in gardens, but it can be a valuable food source for pollinators, such as bees and butterflies. The young leaves of Spanish Needles can also be eaten as a green vegetable. In some cultures, Bidens cernua has been used medicinally to treat a variety of ailments, although more research is needed to confirm these uses.

Other Names:
Spanish Needles has a number of other common names, including nodding beggarticks, nodding bur-marigold, and devil's beggar-ticks.