caltrop

• Nom désignant une plante ou une mauvaise herbe à fruits ou akènes épineux, souvent présente dans les régions tropicales ou méditerranéennes et connue pour ses défenses piquantes.

A noun referring to a plant or weed with spiny fruits or nutlets, often found in tropical or Mediterranean regions and known for its prickly defenses.

1. Weed with spiny fruitC2formalscientific

   A tropical annual plant with a low-growing, trailing habit, known for its poisonous properties and fruit that splits into five sharp, spiny segments; often a problematic weed in pastures.

   Tribule terrestre

   • The farmer struggled to control the caltrop infestation in his field.
   • Caltrop is considered a serious pasture weed in many tropical regions.
   • The spiny nutlets of the caltrop can injure livestock.

2. Water chestnut plantC2formalscientific

   An aquatic plant of the genus Trapa, which produces a hard, four-pronged, edible nut-like fruit.

   Châtaigne d'eau

   • The caltrop plant grows in slow-moving freshwater ponds.
   • The nut-like fruit of the caltrop is sometimes harvested for food.
   • Water caltrop has distinctive spiny fruits that resemble a weapon.

   Synonymeswater caltropwater chestnut

3. Thistle-like herbC2formalscientific

   A Mediterranean plant, either annual or biennial, with pinkish to purple flowers surrounded by spine-tipped scales; it has become naturalized in parts of America.

   Chardon étoilé

   • The caltrop's spiny scales make it difficult to handle without gloves.
   • This Mediterranean caltrop has naturalized in many American fields.
   • The pinkish flowers of the caltrop are quite distinctive.

   Synonymesstar-thistle