puncture vine

plant

Also known as: Tribulus terrestris

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Puncture vine, also known as caltrop, is an annual, prostrate herb (Tribulus terrestris) native to the Old World. It is characterized by its hard, spiny pods and is considered a troublesome weed, particularly in the western United States. The plant spreads via these spiny pods, which can cause damage and are difficult to remove.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Zygophyllales
Zygophyllaceae
…these is Tribulus terrestris (puncture vine). This native of the Mediterranean region has been disseminated to all the drier warm areas of the world. It has hard fruits with sharp spines that easily attach to automobile and airplane tires and to the feet of grazing animals. The spines can…
Read More
…these is Tribulus terrestris (puncture vine). This native of the Mediterranean region has been disseminated to all the drier warm areas of the world. It has hard fruits with sharp spines that easily attach to automobile and airplane tires and to the feet of grazing animals. The spines can…
Read More