Bidens spp – a sticky subject (part 1)

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Marcepstein
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Bidens spp – a sticky subject (part 1)

Post by Marcepstein »

Bidens spp could be considered the capital of the “Cling-on Empire”. Commonly known as Begger’s tick (among other names), it’s a composite flower characteristic of the Asteraceae family. When magnified, ominous looking barbed nutlets stick out of this little flower like a porcupine. They stick to just about anything for dispersal but are actually paper-thin and about 0.6cm long; the barbs about 2-3mm long in this species. A farily common wetland plant and is considered a valuable food plant for waterfowl and other species. These pictures were taken in succession of flower to seed with the Canon 1dM1V, ef MP-e65 macro lens, MT 26ex twin flash, and post processed in Bridge, Photoshop 6 and stacked with Zerene. So not to go over the daily photo limit, it comes in 2 parts (the best tomorrow :) ).

The first image shows the flower and the second a close-up of the disc flowers (curling style and stigmas). The tubular florets are pretty clear (contrast was low) with numerous bracts. The bright yellow background are ray flowers.
Biggers-Tick-Flower.jpg
Final-Bidens-yellow-3B--2022-12-30-07.jpg
The third image is looking at the side of the flower with barbed nutlets; notice where they extend out from the top of green immature nutlets. The forth image is a later view from the side of the flower - little more senesced. The fifth is looking down at the top of a seed head. 2beContinued.
Final-Bidens-flower-side-green--2022-12-28-08.jpg
Retouched-Bidens-3C---2023-01-02-08.jpg
Bidenflower-and--seedhead-front-2022-12-03.jpg

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