Biology:Acaena novae-zelandiae
| Red bidibid | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Acaena |
| Species: | A. novae-zelandiae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Acaena novae-zelandiae Kirk
| |
Acaena novae-zelandiae, commonly known as red bidibid,[1] bidgee widgee,[2] buzzy[3] and piri-piri bur,[4] is a small herbaceous, prostrate perennial, native to New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea,[5] of the family Rosaceae.[1]
Description
Acaena novae-zelandiae is a small herbaceous perennial. It is stoloniferous with prostrate stems of 1.5 – 2 mm diameter.[5] Damage to stolons encourages new shoots to be produced.[6]
It has imparipinnate leaves, with 9–15 toothed, oblong leaflets, which are approximately 2 –11 cm long.[5] The adaxial surface of the leaves is dark green and shiny, and the abaxial surface is hairy and glaucous green in colouration.[2][5][7] The rachis of the leaves is often red.[5]
The scape is 10 – 15 cm long[5] and bears a globular, terminal inflorescence, of 20 – 25 mm diameter,[2] with 70 – 100 flowers.[5][7] The flowers lack petals and can range in colour from green to white or purple.[8] The flowers are wind pollinated.[6]
Each flower produces one achene, bearing four approximately 10 mm long spines,[2] tipped with barbs,[2][5][7] which aid dispersal by attaching to wool, feathers and various clothing materials.[9] When the fruit are ripe, these spines are red in colouration, later becoming brown.
Taxonomy and naming
Acaena novae-zelandiae was first formally described in 1871 by Thomas Kirk who published the description in Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute.[10][11] The genus name (Acaena) is derived from the Ancient Greek word akaina meaning "thorn" or "spine",[12] referring to the spiny calyx of many species of Acaena. The specific epithet (novae-zelandiae) refers to New Zealand.[1]
Distribution and habitat
Red bidibid is native to New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea. It has also become naturalised in California , Great Britain and Ireland.[5] It is regarded as invasive in Great Britain where it has established itself in places such as dune habitats on Lindisfarne.[13][14]
It occurs within a wide range of habitats, including woodlands, shrublands and grasslands, from coastal areas to alpine areas.[2][7] It grows in freely draining soils such as silty and sandy loams, typically on sites which receive a high amount of sunlight.[7]
It also establishes readily on disturbed sites such as roadsides.[9]
Uses
Acaena novae-zelandiae may be used for ground cover in gardens or as a lawn substitute. This plant can be prevented from spreading by limiting disturbance to stolons, thus reducing vegetative propagation,[6] and by mowing flowers before the burrs form.[15]
It has also been suggested that dried "tiny tips"[16] of young succulent leaves may be brewed as tea.[15][16][17][18]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Acaena novae-zelandiae". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. http://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora_details.aspx?ID=2043.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Australia, Victorian Resources Online, Agriculture Victoria. "Bidgee-widgee" (in en-AU). http://vro.agriculture.vic.gov.au/dpi/vro/vrosite.nsf/pages/sip_salt_bidgee_widgee.
- ↑ "View By Common Name | Tamar Valley Weed Strategy" (in en-US). http://www.weeds.asn.au/tasmanian-weeds/view-by-common-name/.
- ↑ "Pirri-pirri-bur" (in en-GB). https://www.invasiveweedsolutions.co.uk/invasive-weeds/non-native/pirri-pirri-bur.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 Webb, C; Sykes, W; Garnock-Jones, P; Given, D (1988). Flora of New Zealand : Volume IV, Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons. Christchurch, NZ: Botany Division, D.S.I.R.. pp. 1062.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Agriculture, California Department of Food and. "CDFA > PLANT > INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL > Encycloweedia > Noxious Weed Photographic Gallery > Acaena genus" (in en). https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/plant/IPC/encycloweedia/weedinfo/acaena.htm.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Gynn, E; Richards, A (1985). "Acaena Novae-Zelandiae T. Kirk". Journal of Ecology 73 (3): 1055–1063. doi:10.2307/2260167.
- ↑ "Bidgee-widgee" (in en-AU). https://grdc.com.au/archive/ute-guides/weeds/multiple-leaflets/south/bidgee-widgee.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Mount, A; Pickering, C (2009). "Testing the capacity of clothing to act as a vector for non-native seed in protected areas". Journal of Environmental Management 91 (1): 168–179. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.08.002. PMID 19717222.
- ↑ "Acaena novae-zelandiae". APNI. https://id.biodiversity.org.au/instance/apni/483657.
- ↑ Kirk, Thomas (1871). "Descriptions of new plants". Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute 3: 177–178. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/107521#page/357/mode/1up. Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ↑ Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 796.
- ↑ "Pirri-pirri-bur". Plant Life. https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/plant-fungi-species/pirri-pirri-bur.
- ↑ "Pirri-pirri burr (Acaena novae-zelandiae)". GB non-native secretariat. http://www.nonnativespecies.org/downloadDocument.cfm?id=1404.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Bidgee-widgee – Victorian Native Seed" (in en-US). Victorian Native Seed. http://www.victoriannativeseed.com.au/?product=bidgee-widgee.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Plants for the water friendly garden". https://www.ccc.tas.gov.au/contentFile.aspx?filename=PlantBkFINAL3.pdf.
- ↑ "Plants of Tasmania Nursery & Gardens". http://www.potn.com.au/edible_plants.html.
- ↑ Hopkins, Kat; Alexander, Mark. "Edible Native Plants of Tasmania". http://www.habitatplants.com.au/hpwp/wp-content/uploads/Tas-Edible-Native-Plants.pdf.
Wikidata ☰ Q2714984 entry
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