Puncturevine

Tribulus terrestris

Zygophyllaceae (Caltrop family)

Class B Noxious Weed

Control or Containment Required

Puncturevine is a Class B Noxious Weed in Franklin County that originated in the Mediterranean region and was likely introduced with transported livestock. Known by many names such as tackweed and goatheads, it is notorious for its sharp seeds that can hitchhike on people, vehicles and animals. 

A summer annual, puncturevine has a mat-forming prostrate growth with trailing stems that may exceed 6 feet in diameter. Yellow flowers develop into hard spiny burs, which can puncture bike tires and cause pain to feet, paws and hooves, and injure digestive tracts of livestock.

Puncturevine can rapidly invade roadsides and waste areas, as well as pastures, vineyards and orchards. A typical plant will produce 500 to 2,000 seeds in a growing season.