Tribulus terrestris
| Tribulus terrestris | |
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| Leaves and flower | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Zygophyllales |
| Family: | Zygophyllaceae |
| Genus: | Tribulus |
| Species: | T. terrestris |
| Binomial name | |
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Tribulus terrestris L. |
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Tribulus terrestris is an annual plant in the caltrop family (Zygophyllaceae) widely distributed around the world, that is adapted to grow in dry climate locations in which few other plants can survive.
It is an invasive species in North America. Like many weedy species, this plant has many common names, including goat's-head,bindii,bullhead, burra gokharu, bhakhdi, caltrop,small caltrops,cat's-head,devil's eyelashes,devil's-thorn,devil's-weed,puncture vine,puncturevine, and tackweed.
Tribulus terrestris is a taprooted herbaceous perennial plant that grows as a summer annual in colder climates.
It is native to warm temperate and tropical regions of the Old World in southern Europe, southern Asia, throughout Africa, and Australia. It can thrive even in desert climates and poor soil.
A network of fine rootlets arise from the taproot to take advantage of soil moisture, by which the plant can survive in very arid conditions.
The stems radiate from the crown to a diameter of about 10 cm (3.9 in) to over 1 m (3 ft 3 in), often branching. They are usually prostrate, forming flat patches, though they may grow more upwards in shade or among taller plants.
Stems branch from the crown and are densely hairy. Leaves are opposite and pinnately compound. Densely hairy leaflets are opposite and up to 3 mm (0.12 in) long.
The flowers are 4–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) wide, with five lemon-yellow petals, five sepals, and ten stamens. In Southern California, it blooms from April through October, where it is highly invasive in waste places and disturbed sites.
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Wikipedia