Acaena pallida
Pale biddy-biddy
(c) Murray NZ, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Murray NZ · licence
Family: Rosaceae · Type: Herb · Not Native
Acaena pallida (Pale biddy-biddy) is a non-native California herb in the Rosaceae family, recognized by leaflet dissection, prickle length, and distinctive shiny wrinkled leaves.
Pale biddy-biddy is a naturalized perennial found in coastal areas of the central California Coast near Stinson Beach in Marin County at near sea level. Flowering from March to May, this plant produces pale flowers in small heads approximately 10 millimeters in diameter. Growing with low-spreading stems 12 to 15 centimeters tall and 2 to 3 millimeters in diameter, it forms a compact ground-covering habit. Its leaves are compound with 4 to 7 leaflets on each side, each leaflet elliptic-oblanceolate, 6 to 30 millimeters long, with fine teeth and a shiny wrinkled surface. The fruit develops distinctive prickles 9 to 15 millimeters long, giving the plant a distinctive bristly appearance when mature.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species; key features are leaflet dissection, prickle length, and distinctive shiny wrinkled leaves
Habitat and range
Habitat: Coastal sand, +- disturbed areas
Elevation: +- 0 m.
Outside California: native to Australia, New Zealand
Bloom period
Acaena pallida blooms Mar-May.
How to tell it apart
vs Sanguisorba: Acaena fruits are covered in hooked spines that stick to you; Sanguisorba fruits are smooth.; vs Achillea: Acaena has compound leaves with distinct leaflets; Achillea leaves are finely dissected into tiny segments.; vs Horkelia: Acaena has spiny burr fruits; Horkelia has smooth dry seeds without spines.; vs Aphanes: Acaena has large pinnate leaves with distinct leaflets; Aphanes has tiny palm-lobed leaves.; vs Poteridium: Acaena fruits have hooked spines; Poteridium fruits are smooth and four-angled.
Frequently asked questions
Is Acaena pallida native to California?
No. Acaena pallida is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Acaena pallida bloom?
Acaena pallida blooms Mar-May.
What plant family does Acaena pallida belong to?
Acaena pallida is in the Rosaceae family, genus Acaena.
What habitat does Acaena pallida grow in?
Acaena pallida grows in Coastal sand, +- disturbed areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.