Bidens pilosa var. minor (Blume) Scherff. APNI* Description: Ligulate ray florets present, c.5, (2-) 4–8 mm long, white or pale yellow with 5–7 purple veins, ephemeral.
Distribution and occurrence: Naturalised in all Australian States and Northern Territory (not yet in ACT). Found in disturbed areas and in native forests.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *SC
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *S.A. *W.A. *N.T.
The ligulate florets that define this taxa are often small, with the ligule barely exceeding the involucre, and in the dried herbarium specimens the inner involucral bracts with their hyaline margins can be mistaken for the ligules. The ligulate florets seem to be emphemeral with ligules not apparent even in immature fruiting heads. This variety is not as common as var. pilosa and the two varieties do not seem to form mixed populations.
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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