Land Caltrops
Tribulus terrestris

Family: Zygophyllaceae

What it is like

A slender herb. It is an annual plant. It grows 30-60 cm tall. It creeps along the ground. The stems are hairy. The leaves are compound. They are divided along the stalk into several leaflets. There is no end leaflet. The flowers are yellow and often folded. They are small and have 5 petals. The fruit are round with sharp thorns. It becomes woody and breaks into 5 wedge shaped sections when ripe. There can be 2-5 seeds in each section. The spines are very sharp and strong.

Chemical composition (per 100g) (leaves): Protein = 5.4. Fat = 0.6g. Kcal = 70. They are low in iron. It is high in proVitamin A.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. The twigs spread over the ground in wet places. It grows in tropical and temperate regions. It grows on sandy soils. It is highly salt tolerant. In Ethiopia it grows between 750-1,600 m altitude. It grows between sea level and 2,300 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places. In the Indian Himalayas it grows between 3,000-3,800 m above sea level. In Argentina In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Balkans, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Britain, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canary Islands, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central Asia, Chad, Chile, China, Colombia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Czech Republic, East Africa, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Europe, France, Gambia, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Hawaii, Himalayas, Hungary, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kuwait, Lebanon, Lesotho, Libya, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mediterranean, Mexico, Middle East, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Oman, Pacific, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Portugal, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia, Slovenia, Socotra, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, South Sudan, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Helena, Sudan, Swaziland, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, UAE, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, West Africa, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The seeds are eaten after grinding into a flour and cooked. They can be used for bread or mixed with other flours. It is used in kreb a grain mixture eaten in Chad. The fruit are brewed into a herbal tea. Oil from the fruit is used in cooking. The young leaves are cooked and eaten as greens. In Uganda they are cooked and eaten with Cleome gynandra or with sour milk. CAUTION: This plant has caused poisoning in animals due to nitrates. This nitrate would get worse in nitrogen rich soils. The cyanide or bitter principle gets removed by cooking.

It is a famine food. It is highly palatable.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds, fruit - tea, flowers, fruit - oil

How it is grown

Plants grow very easily from seeds. They germinate in a few days after rain. Seeds can survive fro long periods in the soil. It has a short lifecycle.

Leaves are collected during the rainy season. The dried leaves can be stored.

Its other names

Local names

Abrojito, Abrojo, Akakima, Akanti, Asukuru, Bakhra, Bakhro, Betagokhru, Bhakhra, Bhaukeri, Bindi-eye, Burra gokharu, Burra-gokhur, Caltrop, Chinnipalleru, Chirupalleru, Croix de malte, Derressat on nas, Devil’s Thorn, Diresa, Don shingi gokharu, Drese, Dubbeltjie, Esukuru, Esuguguru, Gakhura, Goat's head, Gocondho, Gokhari, Gokharu, Gokhatri, Gokhru-bara, Gokhru, Gokhrudesi, Gokshra, Gokshura, Ground bur-nut, Gucundho, Hisek, Ikshugandha, Ivua, Kahar, Kanjate, Kanti, Kaxar, Kokulla, Krachab dei, Kuruec, Kurumshit, Kutob, Lahango-khru, Lotak, Maltese cross, Malei, Mithagokhru, Mithu, Naar-lar, Nahanagokhrua, Nerenjee keeray, Nerinjeekai, Nerringi keerai, Nerunji, Nirunji, Pakhra, Pallerukatalu, Pespsa, Puncture vine, Punctureweed, Qumputia, Rasha, Revienta camino, Roseta francesca, Sanna neggilu, Sarala, Sarata, Serata, Sharatte, Suessue, Tara, Thleso, Tribolo, Tsaydo, Tsetwana, Tsule, Xitzetuane, Zobačica

Synonyms

Tribulus hispidus C. Presl.;