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Bidgee-widgee

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Bidgee-widgee Photos

Scientific Name:Acaena novae-zelandiae (syn. Acaena anserinifolia)


Sprawling habit of Bidgee-widgee
Sprawling habit of Bidgee-widgee
Photo: A J Brown

Other Common Name:
Biddy-biddy

Status:
Native to South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and New Zealand.

Plant Description:


Creeping, stoloniferous and sometimes tangled herb with hairy stems and leaves comprised of 7-9 toothed leaflets up to 12 mm long and 5 mm wide. Upper leaf surface shining, dark green and hairless; lower leaf surface bluish-green and hairy.

Flower-head globular, 6-10 mm diameter and greenish-white on pubescent stems from 5-10 cm long. Fruiting-head globular from 20-25 mm diameter with 10 mm reddish-brown spines having backward pointing barbs at their ends.

Habitat:
Widespread and common, from coastal sands to alps. Found in grasslands, woodlands and shrublands. Not normally found in saline soils but is tolerant of salt-spray.

Comments:
The fruiting-heads of Bidgee-widgee readily detach and adhere to animal fur and human clothing. Similar to other Acaena species such as A. ovina (Sheep’s Burr) but with less leaflets/leaf and a single terminal fruiting-head rather than with a number of fruiting-heads in an interrupted spike.

Bidgee-widgee Photos

Bidgee-widgee leaf
Bidgee-widgee leaf
Photo: A J Brown
Young fruiting body of Bidgee-widgee
Young fruiting body of Bidgee-widgee
Photo: A J Brown

Mature fruiting body of Bidgee-widgee
Mature fruiting body of Bidgee-widgee
Photo: A J Brown

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