Bidens schimperi Sch.Bip. ex Walp.

Annual herb 0.07–1.5 m high; stem 4-angled, simple to much branched, often with red or purple markings, sparsely to densely pubescent.. Leaves broadly ovate in outline, tripartite with lobed parts, rarely simple or bi-to tri-pinnatisect, 2.5–20(–30) cm long, 1.5–10(–15) cm wide, leaf segments ovate to narrowly ovate, the margins lobed, entire, incised-dentate to crenate-serrate, pubescent, especially above, rarely almost glabrous, densely glandular-punctate; petiole 10–55(–120, fide EA) mm long.. Capitula erect or nodding, in lax terminal corymbose cymes; peduncle 2–18 cm long; outer phyllaries 8, linear, 2.5–10 mm long, sparsely pubescent, inner phyllaries 8, 3.5–11 mm long, pubescent or glabrous, light brown to red with a wide yellow margin.. Ray florets yellow or occasionally orange, neuter, 6–8, rays 6–20 mm long, tube ± 1.5 mm long; disc florets dull yellow to orange, ± 4 mm long.. Achenes dark brown to black, 3–10 mm long (outer) to 5–16 mm long (inner), striate, strigose, compressed or flat, sometimes margins callose-thickened; aristae 2, 0.2–4 mm long, retrorsely barbed.

A tropical plant. It grows on arable land. It is also in woodland and on flood plains. It grows between 300-950 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In Tanzania it grows from sea level to 2,400 m above sea level.

The leaves are bitter but are occasionally cooked and eaten. They are chopped and cooked and mixed with other leafy vegetables.

Can be grown by seedlings.