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Goathead Tribulus terrestris

Other Common Name(s):

Description

Puncturevine is an aggressive annual weed with a deep taproot native to southern Eurasia and Africa in the Zygophyllaceae family. This plant has naturalized over much of the USA. It is usually seen growing prostrate with stems spreading radially up to 3-4 feet. It grows in crop fields, pastures, along roadsides and railways, waste places, walkways, parks, yards, and other disturbed areas. It often grows where little else does in sandy or gravelly locations. 

The common name puncturevine comes from the fruit having long sharp and strong spines that can puncture feet, thin shoes, bicycle tires and the mouths of grazing animals. The common name of goathead is in reference to the shape of the fruits. The Latin name tribulus means caltrop in reference to the shape of the weapon.

The fern-like compound leaves are densely hair on hairy stems. The flowers appear during the summer and are lemon-yellow cup-shaped flowers with 5 petals. The fruit easily drops and splits into 5 hard burs with 2-5 sharp spines containing many seeds.

Puncturevine grows in full sun to partial shade and prefers a sandy soil but tolerates other soils. It is very drought tolerant and has evolved to be able to withstand drought. If left unchecked it forms dense mats and outcompetes native grasses and other plants. Grazing animal should not be allowed in an area with infestations of this plant. The plant is particularly toxic to sheep.

Control for small patches is by manually chopping the plant at ground level before flowering as it doesn't root from the stem. Pre-emergent herbicides can be applied from late winter to mid-spring. Post-emergent herbicides can also be helpful and it is best to apply to young plants.

Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems. Weedy and invasive. Listed as invasive by the NC Invasive Plant Council. 

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#yellow flowers#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#spreading#summer flowers#spines#Noxious Weed (state list)#annual weed#rocky soils tolerant#annual#weed#sandy soil#prostrate
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#drought tolerant#yellow flowers#high maintenance#fast growing#aggressive#spreading#summer flowers#spines#Noxious Weed (state list)#annual weed#rocky soils tolerant#annual#weed#sandy soil#prostrate
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Tribulus
    Species:
    terrestris
    Family:
    Zygophyllaceae
    Uses (Ethnobotany):
    May have been used in herbal medicine. Currently used a dietary supplement
    Life Cycle:
    Annual
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Eurasia, Africa
    Distribution:
    Southern Europe, southern Asia, throughout Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, southern North America and Central and South America.
    Edibility:
    The leaves and shoots are eaten in Asia
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Annual
    Weed
    Habit/Form:
    Prostrate
    Spreading
    Growth Rate:
    Rapid
    Maintenance:
    High
    Texture:
    Fine
    Appendage:
    Spines
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Soil Texture:
    Loam (Silt)
    Sand
    Shallow Rocky
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Occasionally Dry
    Very Dry
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    The 1-inch-across fruit is angular-globoid in shape with sharp spines, ridges and bumps. It splits into 5 burs with 2-5 spines each. Starts green and matures to brown
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Solitary
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Cup
    Flower Size:
    < 1 inch
    Flower Description:
    1/2- 3/4 inch wide yellow flowers with 5 petals in summer from the axils of the leaves
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Opposite
    Leaf Shape:
    Oblong
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    Yes
    Leaf Length:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Width:
    < 1 inch
    Leaf Description:
    Compound leaves with opposite small leaflets are densely hairy on hairy stems. There are 3-7 pairs of oblong leaflets per leaf. The compound leaf is 1-3 inches long and the leaflets are 1/4 inch or so.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Surface:
    Hairy (pubescent)
    Stem Description:
    Stems branch out from the crown and are hairy. Initially they are green but mature to brown
  • Landscape:
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Drought
    Problems:
    Messy
    Problem for Horses
    Spines/Thorns
    Weedy