Home | > | List of families | > | Zygophyllaceae | > | Tribulus | > | terrestris |
Synonyms: | |
Common names: | Calthrop (English) Devil's eyelashes (English) Devil's thorn (English) Intolofiyane (Ndebele) Isihlabamakhondlwane (Ndebele) Isihoho (Ndebele) |
Frequency: | Common at middle and lower altitudes |
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: (metres) | Up to 1530 m |
Flowering time: | Dec-Feb |
Worldwide distribution: | Native to the Old World but distributed throughout the world in tropical and warm regions. |
Zimbabwe distribution: | N,W,C,E,S |
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 |
Images last updated: | Saturday 11 May 2019 |
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). |
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