Acaena

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Acaena is a genus of about 60 species of mainly evergreen, creeping herbaceous perennial plants and subshrubs in the family Rosaceae, native mainly to the Southern Hemisphere, notably New Zealand, Australia and South America, but with a few species extending into the Northern Hemisphere, north to Hawaii (A. exigua) and California (A. pinnatifida).[1]

The leaves are alternate, Script error: No such module "convert". long, and pinnate or nearly so, with 7–21 leaflets. The flowers are produced in a tight globose [inflorescence] Script error: No such module "convert". in diameter, with no petals. The fruit is also a dense ball of many seeds; in many (but not all) species the seeds bear a barbed arrowhead point, the seedhead forming a burr which attaches itself to animal fur or feathers for dispersal.

Several Acaena species in New Zealand are known by the common name bidibid. The word is written variously bidi-bidi, biddy-biddy, biddi-biddi, biddi-bid and a number of other variations. These names are the English rendition of the original Māori name of piripiri.[2] The plant is also called the New Zealand burr. The species Acaena microphylla has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[3]

Etymology

The generic name Acaena is derived from the Greek "akaina" (thorn), referring to the spiny hypanthium.[4]

Species

since 2020Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., Plants of the World Online accepted the following species:[5]

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Invasive species

Some species have been introduced accidentally to other areas, attached to sheep's wool, and have become invasive species. Acaena novae-zelandiae, one of the bidibids from New Zealand, is the most commonly encountered species in the United Kingdom, where it is often abundant on coastal sand dunes, crowding out native vegetation and creating an often painful nuisance with the barbed burrs. In California, A. pallida, A. novae-zelandiae and A. anserinifolia are considered serious weeds.[6]

References

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  2. Orsman, H. W. (1999). The Dictionary of New Zealand English. Auckland: Oxford University Press.
  3. RHS Plant Selector Acaena microphylla AGM / RHS GardeningScript error: No such module "Unsubst".
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  6. "Weeds Sorted by Pest Rating", CFDA.ca.gov

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External links

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