Caltrop, Puncturevine

Tribulus terrestris

Physical Characteristics

Tribulus terrestris is a ANNUAL/BIENNIAL growing to 0.6 m (2ft) at a fast rate. It is frost tender. It is in flower from April to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs). Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.

Distribution

Europe - N. France and eastwards to E. Asia.

Habitats

Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Shoots Edible Uses: Leaves and young shoots - cooked[144, 177]. A nutritional analysis is available[218]. Fruit - cooked. The unexpanded seed capsules are ground into a powder and made into a bread[2, 144, 177, 179]. A famine food, it is only used when all else fails[2].

Medicinal Uses

Abortifacient Alterative Anthelmintic Aphrodisiac Carminative Demulcent Diuretic Galactogogue Infertility Leprosy Pectoral The seed is abortifacient, alterative, anthelmintic, aphrodisiac, astringent, carminative, demulcent, diuretic, emmenagogue, galactogogue, pectoral and tonic[4, 147, 176, 178, 218]. It stimulates blood circulation[147]. A decoction is used in treating impotency in males, nocturnal emissions, gonorrhoea and incontinence of urine[4, 240]. It has also proved effective in treating painful urination, gout and kidney diseases[240]. The plant has shown anticancer activity[218]. The flowers are used in the treatment of leprosy[218]. The stems are used in the treatment of scabious skin diseases and psoriasis[218]. The dried and concocted fruits are used in the treatment of congestion, gas, headache, liver, ophthalmia and stomatitis[218].

Known Hazards

None known