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Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris)

Puncturevine is a member of the Caltrop family and is an introduced annual which reproduces by seeds. It is a prostrate, matforming plant with trailing stems, each 1 to 6 feet long and hairy. The leaves are opposite, pinnate, one to two inches long with four to eight pairs of leaflets. The yellow flowers are 1/4 to 1/2 inches wide with five petals. The fruit is a hard, spiny bud which at maturity breaks into five tack-like sections.

Puncturevine, also known as goathead, is most common in eastern Colorado up to 6,500 feet. It grows in pastures, cultivated fields, and waste places. The burs may injure livestock and are the bane of bicyclists.

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