Abstract:

  Hooker (1882) has reported three varieties in Bidens pilosa species i. e., pilosa

     Proper, Linn. bipinnata Linn. and decomposita Wall. Clarke  (1876) has included

     var. decomposita into B. pilosa proper. Taxonomic position of varieties pilosa proper

     and bipinnata is much confusing in literature. Babu (1977)has raised varieties pilosa

     proper and bipinnata as distinct species level into B.  pilosa and  B.  bipinnata

     respectively. The present taximetric study also justified the distinction of these varieties

     as specific level.

     Hooker has reported three varieties of species B. pilosa i.e., pilosa proper Linn.,

bipinnata Linn., and decomposita Wall. from the Himalayan region of India.  Clarke

(1876) has included var. decomposita into B. pilosa proper. During taxonomic work on

the family Compositae author has found that taxonomic position of var. pilosa proper

and bipinnata is much confusing in literature. Babu (1977) has raised varieties pilosa

proper and bipinnata as distinct species level.  Looking to this discretion, it was de-

eided to use taximetrics in interpreting taxonomic status of these taxa.