Puncture Vine
Tribulus terrestris
(Zygophyllaceae, the caltrop family)
AKA--"goatheads", Mexican Sandburs, Texas
sandburs, ground bur-nuts, land caltrop
Puncturevine is a thoroughly
naturalized invader from Europe. It spreads by seed
and is most often found on sandy, dry, or gravelly sites. Puncture
Vine produces sharply pointed burs that stick painfully in bare feet and cause
bicycle flats, reducing the recreational use of many areas. Even light
truck tires can be punctured by these seeds.
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Prostrate Annual
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Grows in dense mats of
up to 4 feet across
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Pinnate leaves
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Leaves 1/2" wide and
1/2" long
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yellow flowers with 5
petals
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Fruits are roughly
circular, splitting into five sections, each with two large divergent spines
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Seedpods are tack-like
and contain up to 4 seeds
The BEST way to rid
yourself of these noxious weeds is to pull them up when they are small and
dispose of the plant.
CONTROLS--
2,4-D
Amitrole
MSMA (Bueno or Trans-Vert)
paraquat (Gramoxone
Max)
chlorsulfuron (Telar)
bromacil + diuron (Krovar
I DF)
norflurazon (Solicam)
imazapic (Plateau)
bentazon (Basagran)
imazamox (Raptor)
topramezone (Impact)
--From the
2007 Pacific Northwest Weed Management
Handbook
