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Tribulus terrestris
Selected images: Click on each image to see a larger version and details of the record View all images (22)
Photo: Bart Wursten
City centre, Mutare
Photo: Bart Wursten
City centre, Mutare
Photo: Bart Wursten
Guvulala Pan, Hwange NP
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along main Zvishavane - Rutenga road
Photo: Bart Wursten
Along main Zvishavane - Rutenga road
Photo: Mark Hyde
Glenara Avenue, Harare
Photo: Mark Hyde
Zambezi River channel in front of Zambezi Sans River Lodge, Zambezi National Park.
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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) 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: | Sep - May |
| Worldwide distribution: | 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: |
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. (undated, c. 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 Caprivi: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Malawi: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Mozambique: Tribulus terrestris
Flora of Zambia: Tribulus terrestris
External websites:
African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Tribulus terrestrisAfrican Plant Database: Tribulus terrestris
Biodiversity Explorer (Biodiversity of southern Africa): Tribulus terrestris
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Tribulus terrestris
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Tribulus terrestris
ePIC (electronic Plant Information Center): Tribulus terrestris
Flora Zambesiaca web site: Tribulus terrestris
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Tribulus terrestris
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network): Tribulus terrestris
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Tribulus terrestris
Ispot Southern Africa: Tribulus terrestris
JSTOR Plant Science: Tribulus terrestris
Kew Herbarium catalogue: Tribulus terrestris
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Tribulus terrestris
The Plant List (version 1.1): Tribulus terrestris
Tropicos: Tribulus terrestris
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