Puncturevine

Growth Habit: Annual, mat-forming, trailing stems to 6 feet long. Leaves: Opposite, hairy, divided into 4 to 8 pairs of leaflets. Oval leaflets 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, leaf 1 to 3 inches long. Stems: Prostrate, trailing, hairy, many-branched from root crown. Flowers: 5 petals, yellow, in leaf axils, up to 1/2 inch wide. Roots: Fibrous. Reproduction: Seeds: Fruit break into 5 sections with 2 to 4 seeds per capsule. Capsules tack-like structures with 2 sharp spines resembling the head of a goat.

Seeds have been known to puncture tires and cause injury to horses and livestock.

Native to Eurasia. Seeds are transported by piercing tires, hooves, shoes, and paws.