Tribulus terrestris

Tribulus terrestris is an annual plant in the caltrop family (Zygophyllaceae) widely distributed around the world. It is adapted to thrive in dry climate locations in which few other plants can survive. It is native to warm temperate and tropical regions in southern Eurasia and Africa. It has been unintentionally introduced to North America and Australia. An aggressive and hardy invasive species, T. terrestris is widely known as a noxious weed because of its small woody fruit – the bur – having long sharp and strong spines which easily penetrate surfaces, such as bare feet or thin shoes of crop workers and other pedestrians, the rubber of bicycle tires, and the mouths and skin of grazing animals.

Description

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.

Edible Uses

The leaves and young shoots can be cooked and eaten. Per 100g fresh weight, the leaves contain: 79.09% water, 7.22g protein, 1600mg calcium, 80mg phosphorus, 9.22mg iron, 4.6g ash, and 41mg vitamin C; calories, fat, carbohydrate, fibre, and most other vitamins and minerals are recorded as zero. The fruit is also edible when cooked — unexpanded seed capsules are ground into a powder and made into bread. It is considered a famine food, used only when other options are unavailable.

Traditional Uses

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.

Medicinal Uses

The seed is abortifacient, alterative, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, astringent, carminative, demulcent, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactogogue, pectoral, and tonic. It stimulates blood circulation. A decoction is used to treat male impotency, nocturnal emissions, gonorrhoea, and urinary incontinence, and has also proved effective for painful urination, gout, and kidney diseases. The plant has shown anticancer activity. The flowers are used in the treatment of leprosy. The stems are used for scabious skin diseases and psoriasis. Dried and concocted fruits are used for congestion, gas, headache, and disorders of the liver, eyes, and mouth.

Known Hazards

Toxic compounds in the plant are known to cause liver damage when ingested at harmful dosages. When ingested, phylloerythrin accumulates in the blood as a byproduct of chlorophyll degradation; however, adverse reactions have not been confirmed in humans. In sheep, consumption of T. terrestris causes tribulosis, also known as 'geeldikkop', which is a type of photodermatitis. Two alkaloids that seem to cause limb paresis (staggers) in sheep that eat T. terrestris are the beta-carboline alkaloids harman (harmane) and norharman (norharmane). The alkaloid content of dried foliage is about 44 mg/kg.

Distribution

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.

Where It Grows

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,

Cultivation

We have very little information on this species and are not sure how successful it will be in Britain. There are conflicting reports on its hardiness - according to one report it is native to N. France which should make it hardy in Britain whilst another report says that it is only hardy in zone 10 which means that it is not frost tolerant. We would suggest treating it as a frost tender annual and then experimenting with its hardiness. It is likely to require a well-drained dry to moist soil and is also likely to be tolerant of maritime exposure. The plant is very fast growing from seed. A good bee plant.

Propagation

Sow seed in spring in a greenhouse. Once seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and plant out after the last expected frost.

Other Uses

None known

Production

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

Other Information

It is a famine food. It is highly palatable.

Notes

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

Nutrition

Synonyms

Also Known As

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

References (82)

• Akram M. and Asif H. M., 2011, Tribulus terrestris Linn: A review. Journal of medicinal plants research, 5(16), pp. 360-364.
• Al-Sodany, Y. M., et al, 2013, Medicinal Plants in Saudi Arabia: I. Sarrwat Mountains at Taif, KSA. Academic Journal of Plant Sciences 6 (4): 134-145
• Ambasta, S.P. (Ed.), 2000, The Useful Plants of India. CSIR India. p 647
• BERRY-KOCH,
• BHANDARI,

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