Bidens tripartita - Burr Marigold

Family:	Compositae
Habit:	Annual
Height:	0.6
Width:	0.3
Synonyms:
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain, north to 63°, east to W. Asia.

Bidens tripartita (Burr Marigold) is a Annual which grows to a height of 0.6m and a width of 0.3m . It has a hardness rating of 6.
Burr Marigold will flower in January to March. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Bees, hover-flies

Soil Information

Burr Marigold will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Burr Marigold prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Burr Marigold should not be planted in shady areas.

Ditches, pond and lake margins, sides of streams etc[17].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in any moderately fertile damp to wet soil in full sun[200, 238]. The flowering heads smell like rosin or cedar when they are burnt[4]. The seed coats have reflexed prickles which allow them to adhere to clothing, animal fur etc[4]. When growing on the edge a pond, these seeds have been known to kill goldfish by adhering to their gills[4].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
Young leaves - cooked[105, 177, 183].

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
Burr marigold is little used as a medicine nowadays, but it was once esteemed for its styptic properties being used to quickly staunch blood flow - it was often used to treat uterine haemorrhage and conditions producing blood in the urine[254]. The whole plant is antiseptic, aperient, astringent, diuretic, emmenagogue, febrifuge, narcotic, sedative, styptic and sudorific[4, 61, 165, 218]. It is an excellent remedy for ruptured blood vessels and bleeding of any kind, and is of benefit to people with consumption[4]. It is used internally to treat bladder and kidney problems, blood in the urine, uterine bleeding, ulcerative colitis and peptic ulcers[238, 254]. Externally, it is used in the treatment of alopecia[238]. It is usually combined with a carminative herb such as ginger when used to treat digestive tract ailments[254]. The plant is harvested as it comes into flower and is dried for later use[238].

• Antiseptic - Preventing sepsis, decay or putrefaction, it destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms.
• Aperient - A mild laxative.
• Astringent - Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.
• Diuretic - Acts on the kidneys, promoting the flow of urine.
• Emmenagogue - Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.
• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.
• Narcotic - Relieves pain, induces drowsiness and gives a sense of well-being.
• Sedative - Gently calms, reducing nervousness, distress and irritation.
• Styptic - An astringent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels.

Propagation

Seed - sow in situ during early spring and only just cover the seed. So long as the soil does not dry out, the seed usually germinates in 2 - 3 weeks at 15°c[134].

Scented parts of the plants

Flowers : Crushed

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

Yields a black dye[178]. The part of the plant that is used is not specified. The burning herb repels insects and flies[268]. The flowers yield a yellow dye of indifferent quality when alum is used as a mordant[4, 115, 268].

• Dye - Plants that provide dyes.
• Repellent - Plants that are said to deter but not necessarily kill various mammals, birds, insects etc.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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