Poplar series

Poplar tree (lat. Bidens populifolia) is a rare herbaceous (sometimes subshrub) plant of the genus Bidens (lat. Bidens), which chose for its residence one of the 24 islands of the Hawaiian archipelago with the name “Oahu”.

The plant has simple leaves, the shape of which is similar to the shape of the leaves of the ubiquitous Poplar, and spectacular yellow inflorescences with edged petals. The leaves of the plant are used for medicinal purposes and to prepare a tonic drink, the taste of which is much subtler than the usual black tea. The poplar tree, which has many natural enemies, is on the list of endangered plants on our planet.

What’s in your name

The generic Latin name “Bidens” contains two Latin words: “Bi” = “two”, and “dens” = “teeth”, referring to the presence of jagged awns or collective bristles on the plant’s achenes.

The specific adjective “populifolia” (“poplar-leafed”) is also formed from two Latin words: “populinus”, equivalent to the word “Poplar”, and “folius”, equivalent to the word “deciduous”, and reflects the shape of the leaves of this species of Seed, reminiscent of the shape of the leaves of the Poplar tree.

Endemic to the island

In the wild, the poplar tree has been spotted only on the island of Oahu, which is one of the 24 islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, occupying the 3rd place among them in terms of area. The island is of volcanic origin, with extinct volcanoes that may still become active, disrupting the peaceful life of the most populated island of the archipelago (the population is approaching “one million”), with its capital, Honolulu, located on it.

The poplar tree is represented on the island by herbaceous or semi-shrub varieties growing in damp forests on rocks and ridges exposed to all winds.

The island of Oahu is famous not only for its rare plants, but also for its famous US naval base, which was attacked by Japan during World War II. It is often the filming location for feature films, which gain great popularity among audiences all over the world. Among them are such masterpieces as “Pearl Harbor”, “Jurassic Park”, and the multi-part television film “Lost”.

Description

The poplar tree has a tenacious root system that allows the plant to live on mountain ridges and rocky slopes.

The medium-height stems are covered with petiolate, large, whole poplar-like leaves.

The inflorescences of Bidens spp. are typical flower heads of the Asteraceae family, consisting of a central disk with a dense cluster of tubular hermaphroditic flowers and sterile marginal petals resembling golden, sunny-yellow rays.

Uses

The local population of the island has long used the leaves of Bidens spp. to make a tonic tea, as well as for medicinal purposes.

Modern chefs continue this tradition, offering tonic drinks prepared from approximately six subspecies of Bidens spp. Each subspecies imparts its own unique flavor, which is much more subtle than that of commercial black tea.

Popular Bidens spp. has not yet been noticed in residential or commercial landscape design, although its sunny yellow inflorescences against a background of green leaves could be a striking accent for other ornamental plants. Growing Conditions

Tick-leafed Bidens prefers full sun and moist, well-drained soil.

The plant has many enemies trying to drive the tick-leafed Bidens off the face of the planet. These include more aggressive plant species; wild pigs that eat the grass and roots of the plant; lack of an effective drainage system; and insect pests (ubiquitous and omnivorous aphids, spider mites, snails, and slugs).

Medicinal Plants of August “Tick-leafed Bidens”

https://www. youtube. com/watch? v=q3a7ZxyYODw

Tick-leafed Bidens