big devil beggar-tick, Bidens vulgata

Yesterday''s rayed beggar-tick was a lead in for this one. This jewel among the bristles was a lot of fun to find. I had just discovered what was to become one of my favorite spots. So far, fifteen endangered, threatened or rare species have turned up in this woodlot. Big devil is not one of those. It is as wide spread as any beggar-tick, but it normally does not have ray flowers. This unusually symmetrical example of a rayed flower head is now a favorite shot - for itself, and because of the context. Big devil beggar-tick grows in wetlands in every state except AK, AL, AZ, FL, HI, NM, TX, and UT, and is in AB, BC, MB, NB, NS, ON, QC, and SK. Lenawee Co MI, 9/1/11. Aster family, Asteraceae.