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Tribulus terrestris
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Photo: Bart Wursten
Chitengo Camp, Gorongosa, Mozambique
Photo: Bart Wursten
Chitengo Camp, Gorongosa, Mozambique
Photo: Bart Wursten
Chitengo Camp, Gorongosa, Mozambique
Photo: Sune Holt
Vilankulo, Inhambane, Mozambique
Photo: Sune Holt
Vilankulo, Inhambane, Mozambique
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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: | Native |
| 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. |
| Notes: | The species is poisonous to livestock. The toxin, a triterpenoid, causes liver damage resulting in photosensitivity (distinctively; unpigmented parts of the skin react to UV light resulting in inflammation leading to swelling etc of particularly the head). This is known to farmers as 'geeldikkop' (yellow-thick-head). Toxicity usually results when livestock (particularly sheep) graze young, wilted plants. Source: Roy Wakefield |
| Derivation of specific name: | terrestris : growing on the ground, i.e. not epiphytic or aquatic. |
| Habitat: | In disturbed areas and sandy soils along roadsides and in grassland. |
| Altitude range: | 1400 m |
| Flowering time: | Dec-Feb |
| Worldwide distribution: | Native to the Old World but distributed throughout the world in tropical and warm regions. |
| Mozambique distribution: | N,Z,T,MS,GI,M |
| 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 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 terrestrisFlora of Burundi: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Caprivi: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of the DRC: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Malawi: 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 terrestrisAfrican 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
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