Burr-marigold

Scientific Name: Bidens laevis

Distinguishing Characteristics:

•Leaves: coarsly serrated, opposite and sessile along central stem.

•Larger specimens often have branching stems; stems may appear dark red to purple.
•Flowers: Yellow, showy, usually about 8 petals; each petal has a green bract about the same size below it; flowers have a long stalk originating from base of leaf.
•Grows erect along shoreline, but can also form floating mats stretching out from the shoreline. Growth habit similar to Polygonum and Hydrolea.

Bidens laevis taken by Graves Lovell