Tribulus terrestris L., Zygophyllaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  no

Risk assessment results: 

Reject, score: 14 (Go to the risk assessment (Australia)).
High risk, score:  11 (Go to the risk assessment (Pacific)).

Common name(s): [more details]

Chinese: ji li

English: bendy-eye, bindii, bull's head, burnut, caltrop, caltrops, cat's head, common dubbletjie, devil's thorn, devil's weed, double gee, goat head, goathead, ground bur-nut, land catrop, Mexican sandbur, puncture vine, puncture weed, yellow vine

French: tribule terrestre

Spanish: abrojos, cacho de chivo, espigón

Habit:  herb

Description:  "Prostrate annual herbs; stems up to ca. 10 dm long.  Leaves 1-4.5 cm long, leaflets 3-6 (-8) pairs, oblong to ovate or elliptic, 4-11 mm long, 2-4 mm wide, both surfaces moderately to densely sericeous to long-strigose, especially when young, stipules subulate, 2-5 mm long.  Peduncles densely antrorsely strigose and hirsute, the latter hair type with pustulate bases; sepals ovate to lanceolate, equal, 2-4.5 mm long, 1.5-2 mm wide, margins scarious; petals yellow, oblong to obovate, 3-5 mm long, 1-3 mm wide; outer nectaries yellowish (?), bilobed, inner whorl of nectary glands yellow (?), distinct; ovary long-strigose. 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" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1344).

Habitat/ecology:  "It is commonly found in railroad yards and right-of-ways, along roadsides and field margins, in barnyards, near gravel pits and open sandy places, and in ballast heaps, dry waste areas, fallow fields, pastures, cultivated fields, lawns, and playgrounds.  [It] grows best in dry, loose, sandy soils and it prospers near sand dunes or loose blown soil by field margins.  However, it also grows in heavier soils, especially if they are fertile and moist.   The plant can grow on compacted soils such as those found along the sides of unsurfaced roads or in playgrounds" (Holm et al., 1977; p. 467).

In Hawai‘i, "sparingly naturalized in disturbed areas such as along roadsides, often in sandy soil, 0-15 m" (Wagner et al., 1999; p. 1344). In disturbed areas in the Galápagos Islands (McMullen, 1999; p. 265).

Propagation:  Seed. "Fruit is dispersed by adhering to the feet of animals and humans or vehicle and bicycle tyres. Fruit also sticks to sheep wool and is often found in hay, straw and manure" (Smith, 2002; pp. 54-55).

Native range:  Mediterranean region, now widely naturalized in warm temperate and tropical regions (Holm et al., 1977; p. 467).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Española Group	Española Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Española Group	Gardner por Española Islet, Española Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Caldwell Island, Floreana Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Campéon Islet, Floreana Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Floreana Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Floreana Group	Gardner por Floreana Island, Floreana Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Genovesa Group	Genovesa Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Cowley Islet, Isabela Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Isabela Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Isabela Group	Volcán Sierra Negra, Isabela Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) San Cristóbal Group	San Cristóbal Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santa Cruz Group	Santa Cruz Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Ecuador (Galápagos Islands) Santiago Group	Santiago Island	possibly introduced invasive	Charles Darwin Foundation (2008)
Fiji Fiji Islands	Fiji Islands	introduced invasive	Smith, Albert C. (1985) (p. 579) Possibly eradicated.
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Kaua‘i Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1344)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Maui Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1344)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	Moloka‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank L. (2003) (p. 27) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H70123 (BISH, PTBG)
State of Hawaii Hawaiian Islands	O‘ahu Island	introduced invasive	Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. (1999) (p. 1344)
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)	Papua New Guinea (eastern New Guinea Island)		Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. (1975) (p. 162) Reported present.
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Wake Islands	Wake Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1993) (voucher ID: BISH 633239) Taxon name on voucher: Tribulus terrestris L.
United States (other Pacific offshore islands) Wake Islands	Wake Island		Bishop Museum (Honolulu) (1994) (voucher ID: BISH 659969) Taxon name on voucher: Tribulus terrestris L.

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Australia Australia (continental)	Northern Territory	introduced invasive	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 54-55)
Australia Australia (continental)	Queensland	introduced invasive	Smith, Nicholas M. (2002) (pp. 54-55)
Cambodia Cambodia	Cambodia (Kingdom of)		Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 468)
China China	China (People's Republic of)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
Japan Japan	Japan (country)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2011)
South Korea South Korea	South Korea (Republic of)		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 366)
Thailand Thailand	Thailand (Kingdom of)		Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 468)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)		Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 471)
Vietnam Vietnam	Vietnam (Socialist Republic of)		Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. (1977) (p. 468)

Indian Ocean
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Maldives Maldive Islands	Malè Atoll		Fosberg, F. R. (1957) (p. 22)
Mauritius Mautitius Islands (Mauritius and Rodrigues)	Mauritius Island		Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. (1979) (p. 366)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
South Africa South Africa	South Africa (Republic of)	introduced	Parsons, W. T./Cuthbertson, E. G. (1992)

Additional information:
Additional online information about Tribulus terrestris is available from the Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR).

Information about Tribulus terrestris as a weed (worldwide references) may be available from the Global Compendium of Weeds (GCW).

Taxonomic information about Tribulus terrestris may be available from the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN).

References:

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1993. Voucher specimen #BISH 633239 (E.J.Funk Wake 8).

Bishop Museum (Honolulu). 1994. Voucher specimen #BISH 659969 (Herbst, D.R. 9678).

Charles Darwin Foundation. 2008. Database inventory of introduced plant species in the rural and urban zones of Galapagos. Charles Darwin Foundation, Galapagos, Ecuador.

Charles Darwin Research Station. 2005. CDRS Herbarium records.

Fosberg, F. R. 1957. The Maldive Islands, Indian Ocean. Atoll Research Bulletin No. 58. Pacific Science Board, National Academy of Sciences, Washington. 37 pp.

Henty, E. E./Pritchard, G. H. 1975. Weeds of New Guinea and their control. 2nd edition. Department of Forests, Division of Botany, Botany Bull. No. 7. Lae, Papua New Guinea. 180 pp.

Holm, Leroy G./Plucknett, D. L./Pancho, J. V./Herberger, J. P. 1977. The world’s worst weeds: distribution and biology. East-West Center/University Press of Hawaii. 609 pp.

Holm, Leroy/Pancho, Juan V./Herberger, James P./Plucknett, Donald L. 1979. A geographical atlas of world weeds. John Wiley & Sons, New York. 391 pp.

McMullen, C. K. 1999. Flowering plants of the Galápagos. Comstock Pub. Assoc., Ithaca, N.Y. 370 p.

Oppenheimer, Hank L. 2003. New plant records from Maui and Hawai‘i Counties. In: Evenhuis, Neal L. and Eldredge, Lucius G., eds. Records of the Hawaii Biological Survey for 2001-2002. Part 1: Articles. Bishop Museum Occasional Papers. 73:3-30.

Parsons, W. T./Cuthbertson, E. G. 1992. Noxious weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Melbourne/Sydney. 692 pp.

Smith, Albert C. 1985. Flora Vitiensis nova: a new flora of Fiji. National Tropical Botanical Garden, Lawai, Kauai, Hawaii. Volume 3. 758 pp.

Smith, Nicholas M. 2002. Weeds of the wet/dry tropics of Australia - a field guide. Environment Centre NT, Inc. 112 pp.

U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. 2011. National Genetic Resources Program. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online searchable database.

Wagner, Warren L./Herbst, Derral R./Sohmer, S. H. 1999. Manual of the flowering plants of Hawaii. Revised edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum special publication. University of Hawai‘i Press/Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 1919 pp. (two volumes).

Wiggins, I. L./Porter, D. M. 1971. Flora of the Galapágos Islands. Stanford University Press. 998 pp.

Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong. 2011. Flora of China (online resource).