Acaena novae-zelandiae

Biddy-biddy

Family: Rosaceae · Type: perennial · Not Native

Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes

Biddy-biddy is a naturalized perennial found in coastal regions including northern Coast Ranges, Central Coast, and northern Southern California in generally disturbed areas at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pale flowers in heads approximately 10 millimeters wide that expand to 35 millimeters when fruiting. Growing with slender stems 10 to 20 centimeters tall and approximately 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter, it spreads with low-growing habit. Its compound leaves have 3 to 5 leaflets per side, each 5 to 15 millimeters long, with elliptic-oblanceolate shape and evenly toothed edges, appearing dull green above and slightly bluish-gray underneath. The fruit develops distinctive prickles up to 12 millimeters long, giving the plant a unique textural appearance.

Habitat: Generally +- disturbed areas

Bloom period: Mar-May

Elevation: < 200 m

Bioregions: NCo, CCo, n SCo

California counties: Humboldt, Sonoma, Marin, San Francisco, Mendocino, Solano, Monterey

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.