Kingdom Plantae Family Asteraceae Scientific name Bidens micrantha | Order Asterales Genus Bidens Rank Species | |
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Similar Bidens campylotheca, Bidens wiebkei, Bidens cosmoides, Bidens amplectens, Bidens torta | ||
Bidens micrantha is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name grassland beggarticks. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it and other Bidens species are known as kōʻokoʻolau. It occurs in many types of habitat on Lānaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi, including rocky cliffs, dry forests, mesic forests, wet forests, and high shrublands.
While B. m. ssp. micrantha is considered secure, B. m. ssp. ctenophylla is uncommon and vulnerable and B. m. ssp. kalealaha is rare and federally listed as an endangered species. This is a shrub forming clumps of herbage up to several feet tall. It bears plentiful flower heads with yellow ray florets. It is grown as an ornamental plant and groundcover in Hawaii.
This species was used to make leis and was brewed into tea.
