Grassland beggarticks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Grassland beggarticks
subsp. kalealaha
Scientific classification
Genus:	Bidens
Species:	micrantha
Synonyms
Synonymy Bidens degeneri Sherff Bidens dichotoma (Hillebrandt) Sherff Bidens perversa O.Deg. & Sherff Campylotheca australis Less. Campylotheca dichotoma Hillebr. Campylotheca micrantha (Gaudich.) Cass. Coreopsis dichotoma Drake Coreopsis micrantha (Gaudich.) A.Gray Bidens ctenophylla Sherff, Synonym of subsp. ctenophylla Bidens remyi Drake, Synonym of subsp. ctenophylla Bidens schizoglossa Sherff, Synonym of subsp. ctenophylla Bidens distans Sherff, Synonym of subsp. kalealaha

Bidens micrantha is a species of flowering plant in the aster family known by the common name grassland beggarticks. It is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, where it and other Bidens species are known as kōʻokoʻolau. It occurs in many types of habitat on Lānaʻi, Maui, and Hawaiʻi, including rocky cliffs, dry forests, mesic forests, wet forests, and high shrublands.

Subspecies

• B. m. ssp. micrantha (Maui)
• B. m. ssp. ctenophylla (Sherff) Ganders & Nagata (leeward Hualālai on Hawaiʻi)
• B. m. ssp. kalealaha Ganders & Nagata (Lānaʻi and West Maui)

While B. m. ssp. micrantha is considered secure, B. m. ssp. ctenophylla is uncommon and vulnerable and B. m. ssp. kalealaha is rare and federally listed as an endangered species. This is a shrub forming clumps of herbage up to several feet tall. It bears plentiful flower heads with yellow ray florets. It is grown as an ornamental plant and groundcover in Hawaii.

This species was used to make leis and was brewed into tea.