Practical
Plants

Bidens biternata

an annual member of the Bidens genus in the family Compositae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Bidens
Life cycle
annual
Fertility
Bees, Hover-flies
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Bees, Hover-flies

Uses

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

One report says that the plant has medicinal uses but gives no more details[1].

Product or use
Miscellany

Environment

Range
E. Asia - Himalayas.
Habitat
Wasteland, amongst scrub, it is also an occasional weed of cultivated land, 1700 - 1900 metres in Kashmir[1]. Wet places and roadsides, C. and S. Japan[3].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - we have no information for this species but, assuming it to be perennial, suggest sowing the seed in a greenhouse in the spring. Surface-sow or only just cover the seed and do not allow the compost to dry out. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. If the plant is an annual then a mid-spring sowing in situ is best. Division in spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors in many parts of this country. We are not even sure if it is an annual or perennial. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Succeeds in any moderately fertile moisture-retentive soil in full sun[2].

References

  1. Singh. Dr. G. and Kachroo. Prof. Dr. P. Forest Flora of Srinagar. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1976-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩

  3. Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation) Smithsonian Institution 1965-00-00

    ↩

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