Land Caltrop, Puncturevine, Puncture-vine, Puncture Vine
Tribulus terrestris
The photo above shows the tip of a prostrate stem of puncture vine with a single flower and several pinnately compound leaves and a developing, spiny fruit at lower left all visible. Photographed on the west bank of the Deschutes River at its mouth........October 7, 2006.
The photo at right shows a close-up of the sepals and underside of the petals of puncture vine as seen on the west bank of the Deschutes River at its mouth..........October 7, 2006. Note the numerous, coarse hairs on the stem.
Characteristics:
Habitat:
Range:
In the Columbia River Gorge, puncture vine may be found between the elevations of 100'-200' from near Mosier, OR eastward to Biggs, OR, and perhaps further east.
The photo above shows a close-up of the flower of puncture vine. Note the 10 stamens. Photographed on the west bank of the Deschutes River at its mouth........October 7, 2006.
The photo above shows a close-up of the thorny fruit which helps give this species its name. Photographed on the west bank of the Deschutes River at its mouth.........October 7, 2006.
The photo above shows the pinnately compound leaf of puncture vine. This species has 4-8 pairs of leaflets per leaf. Note the numerous hairs on the rachis of the leaf blade and shaggy hairs along the midline on the dorsal side of the leaf as well as along the leaf margins. Photographed on the west bank of the Deschutes River at its mouth.........October 7, 2006.
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The photo at right shows puncture vine carpeting the ground around the Crawford Oaks trailhead, Columbia Hills State Park............Oct 12, 2013.
The photo at left shows puncture vine carpeting the ground around the Crawford Oaks trailhead, Columbia Hills State Park............Oct 14, 2018.
Puncture vine seen along Washington Highway 14 about one and one-half miles west of the mouth of Sand Springs Canyon............October 12, 2015.
Paul Slichter