Bidens beckii — Beck's beggar-ticks, Beck's water-marigold
![Flowers: Bidens beckii. ~ By Elizabeth Farnsworth. ~ Copyright © 2024 New England Wild Flower Society. ~ Image Request, images[at]newenglandwild.org](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Asteraceae/bidens-beckii-fl-efarnsworth.jpg)
![Inflorescences: Bidens beckii. ~ By C. Barre Hellquist. ~ Copyright © 2024 C. Barre Hellquist. ~ C.Barre.Hellquist[at]mcla.edu ~ U. of New Hampshire](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Asteraceae/bidens-beckii-in-cbhellquist.jpg)
![Flowers and fruits: Bidens beckii. ~ By C. Barre Hellquist. ~ Copyright © 2024 C. Barre Hellquist. ~ C.Barre.Hellquist[at]mcla.edu ~ U. of New Hampshire](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Asteraceae/bidens-beckii-ff-cbhellquist.jpg)
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Facts
Beck's beggar-ticks, or Beck's water-marigold, is a shallow-water plant of lakes and slow-moving rivers. In flower, it is instantly recognizable for its showy yellow blooms that sit pertly above the water's surface. Its submerged leaves are highly divided and feathery, whereas its aerial leaves are simple and toothed. Fruit-set is apparently rare in the northeast, so the plant probably propagates mostly by stem fragments.
Habitat
Lacustrine (in lakes or ponds), riverine (in rivers or streams)
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
Found this plant? Take a photo and post a sighting.
enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
- aquatic
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
-
Place
- Habitat
- aquatic
- New England state
-
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Specific habitat
-
- in lakes or ponds
- in rivers or streams
Wetland status
Occurs only in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: OBL)
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- present
- Maine
- present
- Massachusetts
- present
- New Hampshire
- present
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- present
Conservation status
Exact status definitions can vary from state to state. For details, please check with your state.
- Connecticut
- rare (S-rank: S2), threatened (code: T)
- Massachusetts
- rare (S-rank: S2)
- New Hampshire
- rare (S-rank: S2), threatened (code: T)
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
3. Bidens beckii Torr. ex Spreng. N
Beck’s water-marigold. Megalodonta beckii (Torr. ex Spreng.) Greene; M. nudata Greene • CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT. Shallow, still or slow-moving water of lakes and rivers. Multiple phylogenetic studies have shown that Bidens beckii is best treated as part of Bidens (i.e., separation of this taxon into the genus Megalodonta is artificial; e.g., Kimball and Crawford 2004)
Native to North America?
Yes and no (some introduced)
Synonyms
- Megalodonta beckii (Torr. ex Spreng.) Greene
- Megalodonta nudata Greene