52 Nebraskaland • May 2021
A Thorny Subject
eople riding bicycles, walking dogs or strolling
barefoot have surely become familiar with Tribulus
terrestris.
Puncturevine. Goathead. Whatever people call this
plant, they likely agree it is a "terrible tribulation." The bane
of outdoor enthusiasts wherever it resides.
"Anybody that lives in a dry, arid climate just about
anywhere in the world has probably experienced
puncturevine," said Lucinda Mays, a master gardener and
horticulturist at Chadron State College. "It's not native to
North America, but it's sure happy here."
It's not the plant's pretty little yellow flowers people hate,
Puncturevine has long been an enemy of outdoor recreation.
Story and photos by Justin Haag
P
Puncturevine's fl owers, attractive
to pollinators, serve as little
redemption for its horrible burs.
