Tribulus terrestris L.

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Photo: Bart Wursten
Katombora School

Photo: Bart Wursten
City centre, Mutare

Photo: Bart Wursten
Chitengo Camp, Gorongosa, Mozambique

Photo: Bart Wursten
Guvulala Pan, Hwange NP

Photo: Sune Holt
Vilankulo, Inhambane, Mozambique

Photo: Bart Wursten
Along main Zvishavane - Rutenga road

Photo: Bart Wursten
B8 road through Bwabwata

Photo: Bart Wursten
C49 to Linyanthi / Chichimane

Photo: Mark Hyde
Glenara Avenue, Harare

Photo: Bart Wursten
Zambezi River channel in front of Zambezi Sans River Lodge, Zambezi National Park.

Photo: Bart Wursten
Fuel Station, Rumphi.

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Species details: Click on each item to see an explanation of that item (Note: opens a new window)

Synonyms:
Common names:	Calthrop (English) Devil's eyelashes (English) Devil's thorn (English)
Frequency:
Status:
Description:	Prostrate annual herb. All parts covered in long whitish hairs. Leaves opposite paripinnate, one leaf in a pair often longer than the other. Peduncle shorter than or as long as, the subtending leaf. Flowers solitary in leaf axils. Petals 3-8(-12) mm, light yellow. Fruit a hard triangular drupe with sharp spines.
Type location:	Mediterranean Region
Notes:
Derivation of specific name:	terrestris : growing on the ground, i.e. not epiphytic or aquatic.
Habitat:
Altitude range: (metres)
Flowering time:	Dec-Feb
Worldwide distribution:	Native to the Old World but distributed throughout the world in tropical and warm regions.
Botanical divisions:
Growth form(s):	Annual.
Endemic status:
Red data list status:
Insects associated with this species:	Zizeeria knysna (Food plant) Grammodes stolida (Food plant)
Spot characters:	Display spot characters for this species
Literature:	Bromilow, C. (2010). Problem Plants and Alien Weeds of South Africa Briza Publications, South Africa Page 349. (Includes a picture). Chapano, C. & Mamuto, M. (2003). Plants of the Chimanimani District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 56. As Tribulus terrestris terrestris Chapano, C. & Mugarisanwa, N.H. (2003). Plants of the Matobo District National Herbarium and Botanic Garden, Zimbabwe Page 35. As Tribulus terrestris terrestris Da Silva, M.C., Izidine, S. & Amude, A.B. (2004). A preliminary checklist of the vascular plants of Mozambique. Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 30 Sabonet, Pretoria Page 118. Heath, A. & Heath, R. (2009). Field Guide to the Plants of Northern Botswana including the Okavango Delta Kew Publishing Page 322. (Includes a picture). Kirby, G. (2013). Wild Flowers of Southeast Botswana Struik Nature, Cape Town South Africa Page 229. (Includes a picture). Launert, E. (1963). Zygophyllaceae Flora Zambesiaca 2(1) Pages 126 - 129. (Includes a picture). Mapaura, A. & Timberlake, J. (eds) (2004). A checklist of Zimbabwean vascular plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 33 Sabonet, Pretoria and Harare Page 81. Under Tribulaceae Ntore, S. & al. (2024). Checklist of the vascular plants of Burundi Page 243. Phiri, P.S.M. (2005). A Checklist of Zambian Vascular Plants Southern African Botanical Diversity Network Report No. 32 Page 103. Pickering, H. & Roe, E. (2009). Wild Flowers of the Victoria Falls Area Helen Pickering, London Page 115. (Includes a picture). Setshogo, M.P. (2005). Preliminary checklist of the plants of Botswana. Sabonet Report no. 37. Sabonet, Pretoria and Gaborone Page 111. Wild, H. (1955). Common Rhodesian Weeds Government of Rhodesia, Salisbury Page 33. (Includes a picture).

Other sources of information about Tribulus terrestris:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Burundi: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Caprivi: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Malawi: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Mozambique: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Rwanda: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Zambia: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Zimbabwe: Tribulus terrestris

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Tribulus terrestris
African Plant Database: Tribulus terrestris
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Tribulus terrestris
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Tribulus terrestris
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Tribulus terrestris
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Tribulus terrestris
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Tribulus terrestris
JSTOR Plant Science: Tribulus terrestris
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Tribulus terrestris
Plants of the World Online: Tribulus terrestris
Tropicos: Tribulus terrestris
Wikipedia: Tribulus terrestris