Tribulus terrestris (Zygophyllaceae)
A branching weedy shrub to vine, annual or perennial with world wide distribution in the tropics and sub-tropics, with distincive burr fruit with sharp hard spines. May or may not be introduced to Australia, is now however widely spread and reported from all mainland states of Australia. There are possibly 10 species of tribulus indigenous to Australia, some endemic others with distributions in Asia, SE Asia and the Pacific region.
Tribulus terrestris is considered a weed of pasture and agricultural land and is declared a noxious weed in at least some states. Fairly drought tolerant and comes back quickly. Related to syrian rue and seeds reported to contain similar alkaloids, ie; beta-carboline alkaloids such as harmaline, though there is little direct phytochemical studies of Australian species. Some species are suspected of stock poisoning in Australia, though this may be due to fungal breakdown of wet mown foliage than the plant directly producing toxins.
Used in Ayurveda, sometimes in combination with Mucuna or cowhage, plant and dried spiny fruit are esteemed as cooloing, demulcent, diuretic, tonic and aphrodisiac. Stems are considered astringent. It's action on the mucous membrane of the urinary tract closely resembles that of Buchu and UvaUrsi flowers. The plant which was also known to the Greek physicians is used in Sth Europe as an aperient and diuretic. One native species Tribulus cistoides was reportedly used by Aborigenes for toothache by chewing the plant and holding it next to the tooth.
Tribulus species reported from Australia
Tribulus
astrocarpus
cistoides
eichlerianus
hystrix
leptophyllus
micrococcus
minutus
occidentalis
ranunculiformis
terrestris