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Species name
Bidens pachyloma1(Oliv.
& Hiern.) Cuf.
Family name
Compositae
Local name(s)
Chuqii (Oromiffa), Adeyabeba
(Amargna), Mekel flower, Meskel daisy (English)
General description
Bidens species are common annual
weeds erect up to 75cm, conspicious and sometimes dominant on roadsides
and fallow areas, sometimes a weed of crops. The stem is yellow-green with
moderately dense short hairs, especially on peduncles. Leave are pinnately
divided. Flower heads have an involucre of spathe-like bracts (broadest
near the tip). Ray florets are yellow, 1-2cm in diameter, and obtuse with
orange spots at the tip and base. Flower heads remain erect when in fruit.
Edible part(s),
preparation methods and palatability
Young leaves & and tender
upper parts of the branches are edible. The plant begins to grow at beginning
of the main rains and edible parts can be harvested as long as they do
not get too fibrous. This usually happens after flowering, when the biomass
of the plant is reduced. The edible parts are prepared like cabbage or
spinach, i.e. boiled in water and salted. If there is any other foodstuff
available, the edible parts can also be mixed. No negative side-effects
are known concerning palatability.
Agroecology
Grows in the Central highlands
as well as in higher altitudes of Jimma and Illubabor Zones of Oromiya
Region (2,400 - 2,600m) on a wide range of soils.
Propagation
method(s)
By seed.
Sample location(s)
Jimma & Illubabor Zones (Oromiya Region)
Remarks
1 See also in Stroud A,
Parker C, 1989: p. 64/65 for Bidens sp. description.
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Bidens b. details of flowers
Drawing of leave shapes
(Pictures from Stroud A, Parker C,
1989: p.64/65 |
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