Zygophyllaceae FAMILY

Tribulus terrestris

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Tribulus terrestris is a hairy, prostrate, annual plant with trailing branches that radiate along the ground up to 90cm from the taproot[ 398 Title Edible Wild Plants of Tanzania Publication Author Ruffo, C.K.: Birnie, A. & Tengnas, B. Publisher Regional Land Management Unit; Nairobi. Year 2002 ISBN 9966-896-60-0 Description A very well presented, simple guide to growing and utilizing wild food plants in Tanzania, with line drawings of each plant, a description, habitat and range, non-food as well as food uses, plus basic information on growing the plants. ]. The plant is gathered from the wild for local use as a food and medicine.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate; tropical

Native RangeA cosmopolitan plant, found as a native through most of Africa and Eurasia, naturalized in much of the Americas.

HabitatDry open habitats, often as a weed in Europe[ 50 Title Flora Europaea Publication Author ? Publisher Cambridge University Press Year 1964 ISBN - Description An immense work in 6 volumes (including the index). The standard reference flora for Europe, it is very terse though and with very little extra information. Not for the casual reader. ]. Sandy seashores in Japan[ 58 Title Flora of Japan. (English translation) Publication Author Ohwi. G. Publisher Smithsonian Institution Year 1965 ISBN - Description The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader. ]. Sandy areas, wastelands, hillsides, residential areas at elevations below 3,300 metres in China[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].