Vascular Plants
Australian Plant Name Index (APNI)
The Australian Plant Name Index (APNI) is a tool for the botanical community that deals with plant names and their usage in the scientific literature, whether as a current name or synonym. APNI does not recommend any particular taxonomy or nomenclature. For a listing of currently accepted scientific names for the Australian vascular flora, please use the Australian Plant Census (APC) link above.
Etymology:Latin for the military instrument called the "caltrop," from Greek tribolos, on account of the 3 upturned points; also applied to T. terrestris.
Etymology:"Greco-Latin for the 4-pointed military instrument called the "caltrop," employed to lame advancing cavalry, with 3 of the points always upturned; a name also applied to T. terrestris."
pro parte misapplication:
KallstroemiaScop.legitimate
by Engler, H.G.A.in Engler, H.G.A. & Prantl, K.A.E. (ed.)(December 1890), Zygophyllaceae.Die Naturlichen PflanzenfamilienIII, 4(52): 88
APC Comment:The rank and circumscription of some taxa within Tribulus is problematic and it is sometimes unclear whether they are native or naturalised. For discussion see R.M. Barker, Nuytsia 12: 9-35 (1998).
APC Dist.:WA (native and naturalised), AR, NT (native and naturalised), SA (native and naturalised), Qld, CSI, NSW (native and naturalised), ACT (naturalised), Vic (native and naturalised)
Etymology:"from tribulus, Latin or Greek for caltrop, the common name for species belonging to this speices; a caltrop was a 4-pointed weapon which when placed on the ground always had one point erect to lame advancing cavalry."