Images
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Morphology
- Stem
- Prostrate, branched, radiating to 5 feet from top of taproot, hairy, becoming nearly glabrous.
- Leaves
- Opposite, short-stalked, 1/2 to 2 inches long, even-pinnately compound; leaflets 6-14, oblong to narrowly ovate, to 1/2 inch long, less than 1/6 inch wide, sparsely silky-hairy; margins entire; tips pointed or blunt.
- Inflorescence
- Solitary flowers, on short stalks in leaf axils.
- Flower
- About 1/2 inch wide; sepals 5, ovate, pubescent; petals 5, to 1/4 inch long, yellow, drying whitish; tips rounded or lobed; stamens 10.
- Fruit
- 5-segmented, 1/2 inch in diameter, hard, dry, each segment with 2-4 stout spines to 1/3 inch long; seeds 2-5 per segment, small.
Ecology
- Habitat
- Sandy or gravelly disturbed sites, waste areas, roadsides, lawns, and alleys.
- Distribution
- Throughout Kansas.
Additional Notes
Comments
Puncture vine often forms dense mats. The sharp, tack-like spines can puncture bicycle tires and cause injuries to the feet of animals and humans. Puncture vine is difficult to eradicate. The seeds can remain dormant in the soil for 4-5 years.
Quick Facts
- Plant Type
- Wildflower
- Family
- Zygophyllaceae - Caltrop Family
- Life Span
- Annual
- Height
- Prostrate
- Origin
- Introduced
- Last Updated
- 2007-07-31
Color Groups
Yellow Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Blooms: July, August, September