Tribulus terrestris is an annual C4 herb (Downton 1971), much branched, stems hairy, mat-forming to 1 m wide.

Tribulus terrestris (puncture vine). plant. commons.wikimedia.org (Accessed 8/2017).
Leaves opposite, evenly pinnate, 3-6 cm long, leaflets 6-8 pairs leaflets 0.5-1.5 cm long.
Flowers yellow, small, radially symmetrical to 1 cm wide.
Fruit dry, 5-parted each part crested and with 2 divergent spines.
Wetland status: UPL.
Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent, ephemeral.
Origin: Mediterranean.

Tribulus terrestris with a sand wasp (Bembix sp.). Zihao Wang, Jamaica Bay, NYC 8/2017.
Habitat: Dry, open soil, fill.
Notes: Contains a photosensitization toxin (Kingsbury 1964). Visited by sand wasps (Bembix sp.).