Desert species Tribulus cistoides (Zygophyllaceae), rediscovery in India after 150 years
UDC 582.751.7:581.95(540)
Keywords:
India, Indian Desert, IUCN, Rajasthan, Sikar
Abstract
Tribulus cistoides is rediscovered after 150 years in India from the Sikar district in the Rajasthan State. This study also reported first natural location of this species for flora of India since no one has reported its occurrence in wild in India. The species is closely allied to T. terrestris and T. rajasthanensis but differs in having larger flower with longer style and 2 larger and 2 shorter spines. The authors suggest calculating its IUCN status on the basis of IUCN red list criteria. For this purpose, more field exploration surveys with detailed studies are needed to know its status in India, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.
The genus Tribulus belonging to family Zygophyllaceae is represented in India by 6 species and 3 varieties. The present paper envisages with its taxonomic description, photo plates, distribution map and identification key with their closely allied species for easy identification.
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References
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Chhatre S., Nesari T., Somani G., Kanchan D., Sathaye S. 2014. Phyto-pharmacological overview of Tribulus terrestris. Phcog. Rev. 8(15): 45.
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Hajra P. K., Nair V. J., Daniel P. 1997. Flora of India. Vol. 4. Howrah: Botanical Survey of India. 561 pp.
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Jain S. K. 1972. Floral composition of Rajasthan – a review. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 12: 176–187.
King G. 1879. Sketch of the Flora of Rajputana. Indian For. 4: 206–236.
Kumar S., Purohit C. S. 2015. Conservation of Threatened Desert Plants. Jodhpur: Scientific Publ. 148 pp.
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Nayar M. P., Giri G. S. 1982. A synopsis of the genus Tribulus L. (Zygophyllaceae) in India. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 24(1–4): 160–164.
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Ravikumar K., Tiwari U., Natesan B., Kumar N. A. 2022. Tribulus ochroleucus (Maire) Ozenda & Quezel (Zygophyllaceae) – a new addition to the flora of India. J. Threat. Taxa 14(3): 20805–20807. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7591.14.3.20805-20807
Salamon I., Haban M., Baranec T., Habanova M., Knoll M. 2006. The occurrence of puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris) and its metabolic characteristics in Slovakia. Biologia 61(1): 25–30. https://doi.org/10.2478/ s11756-006-0004-1
Sankhla K. S. 1951. Enumeration of the flowering plants of N. W. Rajasthan. Univ. Rajasthan Stud. (Biol. Sci.) 1: 43–56.
Schweikerdt H. G. 1937. An account of the South African species of Tribulus Tourn. ex Linn. Bothalia 3: 159–178.
Shetty B. V., Singh V. 1987–1993. Flora of Rajasthan. Vols. I–III. Howrah: Botanical Survey of India.
Shukla S. P. 1971. Intraspecific variants in Tribulus terrestris Linn. Indian For. 97(4): 226–228.
Shu-Miaw C., Shu-Chien L., Bing-Shin W. 1993. Tribulus cistoides L. (Zygophyllaceae): a new record for the flora of Taiwan. Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 34: 31–36.
Singh N. P., Pandey R. P. 1997. Depleting plant resources in Rajasthan Desert. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 36: 47–60.
Singh P., Singh V. 1997. Zygophyllaceae. In: P. K. Hajra, V. J. Nair (eds.). Flora of India. Vol. 4. Calcuta: Botanical Survey of India. Pp. 51–57.
Thomas J. 2006. Taxonomic status of some of the Tribulus species in the Indian Subcontinent. Saudi J. Biol. Sci. 13(1): 7–12.
Vélez-Gavilán J. 2022. Tribulus cistoides (false puncture vine). In: CABI data sheet online. https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.54446
Bhandari M. M. 1990. Flora of the Indian Desert. Revised Ed. Jodhpur: MPS Reports. 312 pp.
Blatter E., Hallber F. 1918–1921. The Flora of Indian desert (Jodhpur and Jaisalmer). J. Bomb. Nat. Hist. Soc. 26: 218–246, 525–551, 811–818, 968–987; 27: 40–47, 270–279, 506–519.
Brandis D. 1874. The forest flora of North-West and Central India. London: W. H. Allen & Co. 626 pp.
Chhatre S., Nesari T., Somani G., Kanchan D., Sathaye S. 2014. Phyto-pharmacological overview of Tribulus terrestris. Phcog. Rev. 8(15): 45.
Duthie J. F. 1888. Fodder Grasses of Northern India. Jodhpur: Scientific Publishers (reprint). 160 pp.
Ghafoor A. 1974. Zygophyllaceae. In: E. Nasir, S. I. Ali (eds.). Flora of West Pakistan. Vol. 76. Karachi, Pakistan: University Karachi. Pp. 1–35.
Hajra P. K., Nair V. J., Daniel P. 1997. Flora of India. Vol. 4. Howrah: Botanical Survey of India. 561 pp.
Holm L. G., Plucknett D. L., Pancho J. V., Herberger J. P. 1977. The world's worst weeds. Distribution and Biology. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: University Press of Hawaii. 609 pp.
Edgeworth M. P., Hooker J. D. 1874. Zygophylleae. In: J. D. Hooker et al. (eds.). Flora of British India. Vol. 1. London: L. Reeve & Co. Pp. 422–425.
Jain S. K. 1972. Floral composition of Rajasthan – a review. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 12: 176–187.
King G. 1879. Sketch of the Flora of Rajputana. Indian For. 4: 206–236.
Kumar S., Purohit C. S. 2015. Conservation of Threatened Desert Plants. Jodhpur: Scientific Publ. 148 pp.
Kumar S., Purohit C. S., Kulloli R. N. 2017. Conservation of Threatened plants in Desert Botanical Garden. Jodhpur. In: P. Singh, S. S. Dash (eds.). Indian Botanic Gardens – Role in Conservation. Howrah: BSI Publication. Pp. 406–425.
Nayar M. P., Giri G. S. 1982. A synopsis of the genus Tribulus L. (Zygophyllaceae) in India. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 24(1–4): 160–164.
Pandey R. P., Shetty B. V. 1985. Rare and threatened plants of Rajasthan. In: GEOBIOS: Proc. Nat. Symp. Evaluate Environ. Zoology Deptt. Jodhpur: J. N. Vyas University. Pp. 238–241.
Pandey R. P., Shetty B. V., Malhotra S. K. 1983. A preliminary census of Rare and Threatened plants of Rajasthan. In: S. K. Jain, R. R. Rao (eds.). An assessment of Threatened plant of India. Howrah: Botanical Survey of India. Pp. 55–62.
Parmar P. J., Pandey R. P., Roy G. P. 1985. Studies on the Vegetation of Bikaner district in Rajasthan. J. Econ. Taxon. Bot. 7(1): 55–67.
POWO [2025]. Plants of the World Online. URL: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org: names:41747-1
Pramanick D. D., Dash S. S., Mastakar V. K., Singh P., Singh V. 2020. Zygophyllaceae. In: A. A. Mao, S. S. Dash (eds.). Flowering plants of India: An annotated checklist. Dicotyledons. Vol. I. Botanical Survey of India. P. 199.
Purohit C. S. 2020a. Biodiversity of Todgarh-Raoli wildlife sanctuary with GIS mapping of EET species. Botanical survey of India. Howrah. 581 pp. (Project Report).
Purohit C. S. 2020b. Ethno-medicinal and economic plants of Todgarh-Raoli wildlife sanctuary, Rajasthan – A review. In: Souvenior of International Webinar on “Global Environmental Challenges, Biodiversity, Principles of Guru Jambheshwar Ji and Remedies” organized by JNVU, Jodhpur and Jambhani Sahitya Academy, 3–5 June, 2020. Bikaner. Pp. 54–66.
Ravikumar K., Tiwari U., Natesan B., Kumar N. A. 2022. Tribulus ochroleucus (Maire) Ozenda & Quezel (Zygophyllaceae) – a new addition to the flora of India. J. Threat. Taxa 14(3): 20805–20807. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.7591.14.3.20805-20807
Salamon I., Haban M., Baranec T., Habanova M., Knoll M. 2006. The occurrence of puncture vine (Tribulus terrestris) and its metabolic characteristics in Slovakia. Biologia 61(1): 25–30. https://doi.org/10.2478/ s11756-006-0004-1
Sankhla K. S. 1951. Enumeration of the flowering plants of N. W. Rajasthan. Univ. Rajasthan Stud. (Biol. Sci.) 1: 43–56.
Schweikerdt H. G. 1937. An account of the South African species of Tribulus Tourn. ex Linn. Bothalia 3: 159–178.
Shetty B. V., Singh V. 1987–1993. Flora of Rajasthan. Vols. I–III. Howrah: Botanical Survey of India.
Shukla S. P. 1971. Intraspecific variants in Tribulus terrestris Linn. Indian For. 97(4): 226–228.
Shu-Miaw C., Shu-Chien L., Bing-Shin W. 1993. Tribulus cistoides L. (Zygophyllaceae): a new record for the flora of Taiwan. Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 34: 31–36.
Singh N. P., Pandey R. P. 1997. Depleting plant resources in Rajasthan Desert. Bull. Bot. Surv. India 36: 47–60.
Singh P., Singh V. 1997. Zygophyllaceae. In: P. K. Hajra, V. J. Nair (eds.). Flora of India. Vol. 4. Calcuta: Botanical Survey of India. Pp. 51–57.
Thomas J. 2006. Taxonomic status of some of the Tribulus species in the Indian Subcontinent. Saudi J. Biol. Sci. 13(1): 7–12.
Vélez-Gavilán J. 2022. Tribulus cistoides (false puncture vine). In: CABI data sheet online. https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.54446
Published
2025-10-11
How to Cite
Purohit C. S., Kumar A., Meena S. L. Desert species Tribulus cistoides (Zygophyllaceae), rediscovery in India after 150 years // Turczaninowia, 2025. Vol. 28, № 3. P. 43–50 DOI: 10.14258/turczaninowia.28.3.4. URL: https://turczaninowia.asu.ru/article/view/17998.
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