PuncturevineTribulus terrestris
BACKGROUND: A native to Europe, puncturevine is common along roadsides, in farm areas, pastures, cultivated fields, and waste areas. Hard spiny seeds damage bike tires and thin walled car tires, and injure livestock.
Other common names: Goathead, bullhead, Mexican sandbur, Texas sandbur
DESCRIPTION: Puncturevine is an annual, spreading its multiple stems prostrate along the ground. Stems may be up to five feet long. Leaves are compound pinnate with four to eight pairs of leaflets. Each leaflet is less than half an inch long. Small yellow flowers have five petals and are about one-third inch wide. The flowers produce hard, spiny, five-lobed fruits. At maturity the fruit breaks into tack-like structures each containing two to four seeds. Bloom is in late spring and early summer.
CONTROL: Biocontrol is available. Herbicides can offer good to excellent control when applied in spring. Contact your local state or county weed specialist for specific updated information.