Download Botanical Name: Tribulus terrestris Linn. Kingdom

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Botanical Name: Tribulus terrestris
Linn.
Kingdom:
Plantae
Division:
Magnoliophyta
Order:
Zygophyllales
Family:
Zygophyllaceae
Genus:
Tribulus
Sindhi Name: Tikundi, Gokhru
Description of Tribulus terrestris:
Annual or biennial, prostrate, densely appressed
whitish silky pubescent herb. Stem hirsute to
sericeous,
branches
spreading.
Leaves
paripinnate, 2.5-5 cm long; stipules lanceolate to
falcate, 3-5 mm long; leaflets (4-) 5-6(-8) pairs
ovate to elliptic-oblong, 5-10(-12) mm long, 3-8
mm broad, inequilateral, acute. Flowers yellow,
1-1.5 cm across; pedical up to 1.5(-2) cm long.
Sepals ovate-lanceolate, 5-6 mm long, c. 3 mm
Tribulus terrestris
broad, acute. Petals obovate, 6-8 mm long, 3-4
mm broad, obtuse. Stamens 10, filaments c. 3-5 mm long, anthers versatile. Ovary ovoid,
hirsute; style c. 1.5 mm long, stigmas decurrent. Fruit up to c. 1 cm in diameter, 4-8 mm long,
mericarps densely crested and tuberculate on dorsal side, densely hairy to glabrescent, with 2
long patent and 2 short downwardly directed spines (rarely all or lower 2 reduced to tubercles).
Flower Period: Almost throughout the year.
Type: Described from South Europe.
Distribution:
Tropical and subtropical countries in Asia, Africa, S. Europe, North Australia and introduced in
new world tropics.
Common throughout Pakistan from sea level to 3500 m, in sandy soils of barren lands and
cultivated fields as a weed.
A highly variable species in leaf and flower size and fruit characters. Many authors recognize
subspecies and varieties on the basis of presence or absence of spines, tubercles and
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indumentum on the dorsal side of mericarps but these characters do not seem constant and
correlated and I prefer to recognize one variable species without any formal infra-specific taxa.
The plant is used as a diuretic, demulcent, tonic, aphrodisiac and aperient. The fruit is used in
painful micturition, urinary diseases, impotence, cough and heart diseases.
Medicinal Uses of Tribulus terrestris in Sindh:
Thumbtack-like Tribulus terrestris nutlets are used against retention and itching in urine and
whole fresh plant is used for for improving male sexual strength and juriyan.
1. Method of use for itching and retention of urine:
Boil the 5-8g of the thorns in 1 glass of water and also add some sugar for the taste. Cool the
water and take one cup every day.
2. Method of use for juriyan and male sexual weakness:
Take 1 glass of water and dipp the 10-12g of the leaves for only 1-2 minutes and drink that
water. Repeat same pratice 3 times a day.
Previous studies on Tribulus terrestris:
It has been reported that plant possess hypoglycaemic activity.