Tribulus

{{Short description|Genus of plants in the family Zygophyllaceae}}

{{About|the plant|the weapon used by the Ancient Romans|caltrop|the gastropod genus|Tribulus (gastropod)|the DC Comics character|Tribulus (DC Comics)}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Starr_040801_0004_tribulus_cistoides.jpg

|image_caption = Tribulus cistoides in flower

|taxon = Tribulus

|authority = L.{{APNI2|id=60410|name=Tribulus}}{{cite book | vauthors=((Linné, Carl von)) |date=1908|title=Species plantarum: exhibentes plantas rite cognitas ad genera relatas, cum diferentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema sexuale digestas|publisher=Junk|volume=1|page=386|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/26068351|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.37656}}

}}

Tribulus is a genus of plants in the family Zygophyllaceae and found in diverse climates and soils worldwide from latitudes 35°S to 47°N.{{cite web|date=2019|url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:41747-1|title=Tribulus L.|publisher=Plants of the world online: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|accessdate=18 June 2019|archive-date=5 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105134604/https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:41747-1|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Tribulus terrestris (puncture vine) |url=https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/54447 |publisher=CABI |accessdate=27 July 2019 |date=8 November 2018 |archive-date=31 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331055957/https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/54447 |url-status=live }} The best-known member is T. terrestris (puncture vine), a widespread invasive species and weed.

Tribulus species are perennial, but some grow as annuals in colder climates. The leaves are opposite and compound. The flowers are perfect (hermaphroditic) and insect-pollinated, with fivefold symmetry. The ovary is divided into locules that are in turn divided by "false septa" (the latter distinguish Tribulus from other members of its family).

Some species are cultivated as ornamental plants in warm regions. Some, notably T. cistoides, T. longipetalus, T. terrestris, and T. zeyheri, are considered weeds. Tribulus is the national flower of United Arab Emirates.{{cite web |title=Types of Flowers in Dubai |publisher=gardenguides.com |url=http://www.gardenguides.com/121544-types-flowers-dubai.html |accessdate=June 7, 2014 |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610221507/https://www.gardenguides.com/121544-types-flowers-dubai.html |url-status=live }} Thirteen species of Tribulus are accepted by The Plant List, but there are many names still unresolved and needing further study.