| Red bidibid | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| 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 | |
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]
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.
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]
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]
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]
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