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: Mexican sandbur, 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, 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).

Impacts and invaded habitats:  "Survey of extent of invasive species, puncture vine (Tribulus terretris [sic]) on Kirimati Island; vine is affecting livelihoods of people with its prickly thorns causing puncture to tyres and injury to feet of humans and livestock; looking to introduce two biocontrol weevils." (SPC/LRD 2013 Annual Report)

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	Lāna‘i Island	introduced invasive	Oppenheimer, Hank (2013) (p. 19) Voucher cited: Oppenheimer H21113 (BISH, PTBG)
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)
Kiribati Kiribati	Kirimati Island	introduced invasive	Secretariat of the Pacific Community (2014) (p. 38) "Survey of extent of invasive species, puncture vine (Tribulus terretris [sic]) on Kirimati Island; vine is affecting livelihoods of people with its prickly thorns causing puncture to tyres and injury to feet of humans and livestock; looking to introduce two biocontrol weevils."
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. (2013)
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. (2013)
Japan Japan	Japan	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013)
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)

Control:  If you know of control methods for Tribulus terrestris, please let us know.