Tribulus terrestris

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Zygophyllales Family: Zygophyllaceae Genus: Tribulus

goat head, puncture vine

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Prostrate annual herbs.

Stems: Stems up to ca.10 dm long.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound. Opposite. Blades oblong to ovate or elliptic, 1–4.5 cm long, leaflets 3–6(–8) pairs, 4–11 mm long, 2–4 mm wide. Surfaces moderately to densely sericeous to long strigose, especially when young. Margins entire. Petiolate. Stipules subulate, 2–5 mm long.

Flowers: Flowers in peduncles densely antrorsely strigose and hirsute, the latter hair type with pustulate bases. Flowers bisexual (perfect), actinomorphic. Calyx of 5 sepals; sepals ovate to lanceolate, equal, 2–4.5 mm long, 1.5–2 mm wide, margins scarious. Corolla of 5 petals; petals yellow, oblong to obovate, 3–5 mm long, 1–3 mm wide. Stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5, the outer whorl opposite the sepals and adnate to them basally, usually slightly longer than inner whorl; filaments filiform or subulate, without appendages; anthers cordate to sagittate. Ovary superior, long–strigose.

Fruit: Fruit 5–12 mm in diameter; mericarps dorsally crested and tuberculate; bearing 2 stout hard spines 2.5–7 mm long; sometimes also with 2 smaller ones near base; the crests short hirsute; the hairs with pustulate bases. Seeds oblong–ovoid; seed coat membranous; embryo straight; endosperm absent.

Ploidy: 2n = 12; 24; 32; 36; 48

Habitat: Disturbed areas such as along roadsides; often in sandy soil.

Elevation Range: 0–15 m.

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Birds
Other Animals

Pollinators

Specimens

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 387 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1344 (K, O, M, H); Oppenheimer 2003:27 (Mo); Oppenheimer 2013:19 (L)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Tribulus terrestris L. kekaha, kauai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN degener, o. s.n. HO 11/22/1960
2 Tribulus terrestris L. Mahaulepu. East end at edge of pasture. Growing along horse trail above coastal bluffs. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Clay Trauernicht 254 Kauai PTBG 12/4/2007
3 Tribulus terrestris L. W. Maui, Lahaina. Along Front Street near Prison Street. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H70010 Maui PTBG 7/1/2000
4 Tribulus terrestris L. Mahaulepu road ca. 1.5 miles east of Koloa Mill. Along roadside. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 1880 Kauai PTBG 9/2/1986
5 Tribulus terrestris L. Waimea Canyon Road just outside Kekaha. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 842 Kauai PTBG 4/27/1984
6 Tribulus terrestris L. Kaunakakai. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H70123 Molokai PTBG 7/14/2001
7 Tribulus terrestris L. Manele. Near sea level in landscaped area. Landscaped area. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H21113 Lanai PTBG 2/17/2011
8 Tribulus terrestris L. west lock u.s. navy ammunition storage area, just s of west lock, pearl harbor, ewa dist PRESERVED_SPECIMEN f. r. fosberg 65093 Oahu US 10/27/1985
9 Tribulus terrestris L. Kona, town of Kailua in disturbed area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wagner, W.L. 5507 Hawaii BISH 2/18/1985
10 Tribulus terrestris L. adventures rent-a-jeep near kahului on dairy rd. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN w. l. wagner & k. shaw 6483 Maui US 8/12/1991
11 Tribulus terrestris L. Adventures Rent-a-Jeep near Kahului on Dairy Rd. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wagner, W. L.; Shaw, K. 6483 Maui US 8/12/1991
12 Tribulus terrestris L. West Lock U.S. Navy Ammunition Storage Area, just S of West Lock, Pearl Harbor, Ewa Dist PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F. R. 65093 Oahu US 10/27/1985
13 Tribulus terrestris L. kaunakakai Growing in sidewalk cracks. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN oppenheimer, h.l. collector number: h70123 Molokai BISH 7/14/2001
14 Tribulus terrestris L. alii drive, kamoa state historical park Along shoulder of road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN corn, c. collector number: s.n. Hawaii BISH 9/3/1985
15 Tribulus terrestris L. Kaunakakai Growing in sidewalk cracks. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. Collector Number: H70123 Molokai BISH 7/14/2001
16 Tribulus terrestris L. along coastal and inland trail in puuhonua o honaunau national historical park Predominantly exotic vegetation. Area highly modified by ancient Polynesians. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN higashino, p.k. stemmermann, r.l.; allen, m.s. collector number: 10249 Hawaii BISH 4/7/1984
17 Tribulus terrestris L. Alii Drive, Kamoa State Historical Park Along shoulder of road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Corn, C. s.n. Hawaii BISH 9/3/1985
18 Tribulus terrestris L. Manele in landscaped area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H21113 Lanai BISH 2/17/2011
19 Tribulus terrestris L. Waimea Canyon Road just outside of Kekaha PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. 842 Kauai BISH 4/27/1984
20 Tribulus terrestris L. Kekaha weed by sandy roadside PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St. John, H. 22970 Kauai BISH 12/23/1947
21 Tribulus terrestris L. kekaha weed by sandy roadside PRESERVED_SPECIMEN st.john, h. cowan, r.s.; webster, g.l.; wilbur, r.l. collector number: 22970 Kauai BISH 12/23/1947
22 Tribulus terrestris L. Alii Drive, Kamoa State Historical Park Along shoulder of road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Corn, C. Collector Number: s.n. Hawaii BISH 9/3/1985
23 Tribulus terrestris L. Ewa District, Waipahu, Puohala Pond Growing in disturbed area along road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Herbst, D.R. s.n. Oahu BISH 11/20/1984
24 Tribulus terrestris L. Ewa Dist.; Pearl Harbor, West Loch Navy Ammunition Storage area just S of West Lock Roadside on flat slightly elevated coral reef limestone. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F.R. 65093 Oahu BISH 10/27/1985
25 Tribulus terrestris L. Mahaulepu road ca 1.5 miles east of Koloa Mill Mat forming herb along road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Flynn, T. 1180 Kauai BISH 10/2/1986
26 Tribulus terrestris L. Kaunakakai Growing in sidewalk cracks. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Oppenheimer, H.L. H70123 Molokai BISH 7/14/2001
27 Tribulus terrestris L. kalae, kau, upper end, coast guard area gulches clothed with dense rainforest vegetation PRESERVED_SPECIMEN meinecke, w.h. Lanai BISH 12/4/1969
28 Tribulus terrestris L. kekaha kauai Moist wooded gulch PRESERVED_SPECIMEN pearsall, g.a. collector number: 0433 Oahu BISH 9/9/1959
29 Tribulus terrestris L. ewa district, waipahu, puohala pond Growing in disturbed area along road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN herbst, d.r. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 11/20/1984
30 Tribulus terrestris L. mahaulepu road ca 1.5 miles east of koloa mill Mat forming herb along road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN flynn, t. collector number: 1180 Kauai BISH 10/2/1986
31 Tribulus terrestris L. Kekaha Kauai Growing along the streets and in open places in the sand at Kekaha. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Pearsall, G.A. 433 Kauai BISH 9/9/1959
32 Tribulus terrestris L. kona, town of kailua in disturbed area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN wagner, w.l. mill, s.w. collector number: 5507 Hawaii BISH 2/18/1985
33 Tribulus terrestris L. honokahau boat harbor, n. kona district Growing on bare dirt by boat ramp. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN pyle, l. collector number: s.n. Hawaii BISH 5/6/1990
34 Tribulus terrestris L. Honokahau Boat Harbor, N. Kona District Growing on bare dirt by boat ramp. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Pyle, L. s.n. Hawaii BISH 5/6/1990
35 Tribulus terrestris L. waimea canyon road just outside of Kekaha PRESERVED_SPECIMEN flynn, t. collector number: 0842 Kauai BISH 4/27/1984
36 Tribulus terrestris L. ewa dist.; pearl harbor, west loch navy ammunition storage area just s of west lock Roadside on flat slightly elevated coral reef limestone. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN fosberg, f.r. collector number: 65093 Oahu BISH 10/27/1985
37 Tribulus terrestris L. Along coastal and inland trail in Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park Predominantly exotic vegetation. Area highly modified by ancient Polynesians. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Higashino, P.K. 10249 Hawaii BISH 4/7/1984