Story: Rural language

Piripiri or biddy-bid

Piripiri or biddy-bid

The Māori name for Acaena microphylla is piripiri – spelt as biddy-bid by Europeans, based on what they heard. The plant’s seeds spread by sticking to clothes, fur and feathers.

Using this item

Natural Sciences Image Library of New Zealand
Reference: Di0036Smp.tif
Photograph by Peter E. Smith

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Dianne Bardsley, 'Rural language - Māori influences', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/18589/piripiri-or-biddy-bid (accessed 20 April 2024)

Story by Dianne Bardsley, published 24 Nov 2008