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Summary

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.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant 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].

References More on Edible Uses

Composition

Figures in grams (g) or miligrams (mg) per 100g of food.

Leaves (Fresh weight)

0 Calories per 100g
Water : 79.09%
Protein: 7.22g; Fat: 0g; Carbohydrate: 0g; Fibre: 0g; Ash: 4.6g;
Minerals - Calcium: 1600mg; Phosphorus: 80mg; Iron: 9.22mg; Magnesium: 0mg; Sodium: 0mg; Potassium: 0mg; Zinc: 0mg;
Vitamins - A: 0mg; Thiamine (B1): 0mg; Riboflavin (B2): 0mg; Niacin: 0mg; B6: 0mg; C: 41mg;
Reference: [ 218]
Notes:

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
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].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

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[50] whilst another report says that it is only hardy in zone 10 which means that it is not frost tolerant[200]. 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[50]. A good bee plant[156].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Celsius Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frost.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Egypt (Sinai), Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia (southeast)), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China, Japan TROPICAL ASIA: India, Pakistan AUSTRALASIA: Australia (north) EUROPE: Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Russian Federation-European part (European part (south)), Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym), Albania, Bulgaria, Greece (incl. Crete), Croatia, Italy (incl. Sardinia, Sicily), Romania, Slovenia, Spain (incl. Baleares), France (incl. Corsica), Portugal AFRICA: Spain (Canarias), Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Benin, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Eswatini, South Africa, Madagascar

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

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Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Tribulus terrestris - L.