Description :

• Low shrublets
• Leaves alternate; stipules 0
• Inflorescence bracteolate, in terminal dense groups
• Flowers bisexual or sometimes lateral ones male
• Perianth 5-parted, connate for ± half its length; tube very short in male flowers
• Stamens many, arising from mouth of perianth
• Ovary inferior, of 2 fused carpels, 2-locular, with solitary, pendulous ovule per locule; style 1; stigmas 2
• Fruit compound, fused to spinous bracts, spiny, stalked

Classification Notes:

• The genus is separated from Tetragonia by the compound fruit which includes the sclerotinised bracts. The horns of some species of Tetragonia may, however, be of similar origin

Nomenclature:

• Tribulocarpus S.Moore
  • Moore: 228 (1921)
  • Adamson: 148 (1955) as subgenus
  • Jeffrey: 34 (1961)
  • Phillips: 294 (1951)
  • Friedrich: 6 (1967)
  • Gilbert: 116 (1993)
  • Hartmann: 46 (1993)

Distribution & Notes:

• Global : Species 1: Tribulocarpus dimorphanthus (Pax) S.Moore, Africa
• Southern Africa : Namibia