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Tribulus-terrestris_3

Image of puncture vine

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Tribulus terrestris L., syn.: Tribulus lanuginosus L. Mexican sandbur, Maltese Cross, Small Caltrops, Puncture Vine, Devil's Weed, DE: Erd-Burzeldorn, ErdsternchenSlo.: navadna zobaicaDat.: June 25. 2014 Lat.: 44.63957 Long.: 14.39441Code: Bot_806/2014_DSC1305Habitat: stony road side, ruderal, calcareous, skeletal ground; almost flat terrain; sunny, open place; elevation 45 m (150 feet); average precipitations ~ 900 mm/year, average temperature 12 - 14 deg C, Sub-Mediterranean phytogeographical region.Substratum: soil.Place: Adriatic Sea, island Loinj, village Sveti Jakov, access road to the house Sv. Jakov 27, Kvarner Bay, Rijeka region, Croatia EC.Comment: Tribulus terrestris is according to Aeschimann et al (2004) (Ref.:4) a Mediterranean plan. It can be found also in the warmest part of Slovenia close to Adriatic Sea. It is often a weed of extensively cultivated land, growing on ruderal places, on dirt path edges. It is present also in garrigue. It loves open, sunny and dry places. Leaves on low, long, widely spreading stalks are pinnate, but without terminal leaflets (even pinnate). All plant is covered with distinct, long, silvery hairs (but it is sometimes also glabrous). A 'special' Mediterranean summer experience are its fruits. They are encased in hard, roundish shells with one or more sharp, nasty thorns (see one, not yet ripe on Picture 9, down-right). In spite of the fact that they are small, it can be quite painful if stepped on them barefoot, or sit on them in swimwear. If this happens to you recall that the plant's flowers are beautiful. Tribulus terrestris is a very old medicinal plant known as a general health supporter, improving blood sugar control and cholesterol levels, etc.. It is especially famous for healing sexual problems. Many scientific and 'scientific' research proved its effectiveness but also many scientific and 'scientific' investigations denied its effects. Regardless of this, hundreds of products based on this plant are on the market.Ref.:(1) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 347. (2) M. Blamey, C. Grey-Wilson, Wild Flowers of the Mediterranean, A & C Black, London (2005), p 115.(3) R. Domac, Flora Hrvatske (Flora of Croatia) (in Croatian), kolska Knjiga, Zagreb (1994), p 151.(4) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 1050.

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Amadej Trnkoczy
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