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Electronic Flora of South Australia species Fact Sheet

Family: Zygophyllaceae
Tribulus terrestris

Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 387 (1753).

Synonymy: Tribulus terrestris

Common name: Caltrop, cat-head.

Description:
Prostrate more or less villous annual; leaves opposite, unequal, with 4-7 pairs of leaflets; leaflets obliquely oblong, 5-10 mm long.

Flowers 6-15 mm diam.; sepals c. 3 mm long; petals yellow, 5-6 mm long.

Fruit 6-10 mm long, slightly hairy or tomentose; cocci rugose-muricate on the back, with 2 divergent spines 3-8 mm long in the upper part, and 2 shorter spines near the base pointing downwards; seeds 2-4 in each coccus.

Published illustration: Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 438.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, SL, SE.   all mainland States.

Conservation status: naturalised

Flowering time: Feb. — July.


SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: The less hairy form, with usually longer spines on the fruit, in the settled districts is perhaps introduced. A common weed in warm temperate regions on all continents. It can cause nitrate poisoning, an unusual form of staggers, and has photosensitising effects in sheep; its burrs can reduce the value of wool.

Author: Not yet available


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