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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

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 Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Tribulus terrestris Mahaulepu road ca 1.5 miles east of Koloa Mill Mat forming herb along road. Preserved_Specimen Petals five, greenish yellow. Stamens 10. Anthers bright yellow. Stigma lobed, pale green. Flynn, T.W. 1880 Kauai BISH 1986-10-02
2 Tribulus terrestris Manele in landscaped area Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 21113 Lanai BISH 2011-02-17
3 Tribulus terrestris Diamond Head, Black Point Road, Freeman Seabird Preserve. Uncommon, growing mostly along dirt pathways. Native T. cistoides much more abundant on the property. Preserved_Specimen Roberts, A. Oahu BISH 2020-12-19
4 Tribulus terrestris Ewa District, Waipahu, Puohala Pond Growing in disturbed area along road. Preserved_Specimen Herbst, D.R. Oahu BISH 1984-11-20
5 Tribulus terrestris 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 1984-04-07
6 Tribulus terrestris Kona, town of Kailua in disturbed area Preserved_Specimen Wagner, W.L. 5507 Hawaii BISH 1985-02-18
7 Tribulus terrestris Honokahau Boat Harbor, N. Kona District Growing on bare dirt by boat ramp. Preserved_Specimen Pyle, L. Hawaii BISH 1990-05-06
8 Tribulus terrestris Alii Drive, Kamoa State Historical Park Along shoulder of road. Preserved_Specimen Corn, C. Hawaii BISH 1985-09-03
9 Tribulus terrestris Kaunakakai Growing in sidewalk cracks. Preserved_Specimen Oppenheimer, H.L. 70123 Molokai BISH 2001-07-14
10 Tribulus terrestris Kekaha weed by sandy roadside Preserved_Specimen flower yellow St.John, H. 22970 Kauai BISH 1947-12-23
11 Tribulus terrestris 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 Very prostrate, forming loose mats; flws yellow. Fosberg, F.R. 65093 Oahu BISH 1985-10-27
12 Tribulus terrestris Gilbert Kahele Recreation Area. Growing in the road right-of-way of the road that goes towards Mauna Kea. Weedy, disturbed area with mostly species that are tolerant of mowed or occasionally re-graded roadsides. Associated species: Senecio madagascariensis, Chenopodium oahuense, Salsola tragus, Verbesina encelioides, Malva cf. neglecta, Lepidium sp. Preserved_Specimen Non-native species. Flowering and fruiting. Trailing vine. Flowers yellow. Warneke, C. 323 Hawaii BISH 2019-10-25
13 Tribulus terrestris Kekaha Kauai Growing along the streets and in open places in the sand at Kekaha. Preserved_Specimen A fine running herb. Pearsall, G.A. 433 Kauai BISH 1959-09-09
14 Tribulus terrestris Waimea Canyon Road just outside of Kekaha Preserved_Specimen Mat forming. Petals yellow Flynn, T.W. 842 Kauai BISH 1984-04-27
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