Nohu
Tribulus cistoides
Low-growing ground cover with bright yellow flowers that average in 2 inches in diameter. Once pollinated flowers develop in to sun shaped seed capsules that are covered with very hard and sharp spines.
He lāʻau kolo ka nohu me nā pua melemele (ʻelua ʻīniha ke ākea). He mau hua ʻoiʻoi i uhi ʻia i nā kala.
This native ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi plant is uncommonly found along sandy and rocky coast lines of most islands, including the north western ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi islands.
Ulu ka nohu ma kahakai a ma ka māwae pōhaku i kai ma nā mokupuni o kēia pae ʻāina a ma kekahi o nā mokupuni pālahalaha.
As a ground cover Nohu does best in full sun with not much watering. Because of where it grows naturally conditions such as hight wind, salt spray, and drought will make this plant thrive. However, you must be concerened with the seed capsules. All thought the plants seem beautiful from a far it would be in your best interest to not walk around bare foot unless you want to discover the true definition of pain. They don’t call it Nohu for nothing!
E kanu i ka nohu i kahi e pā nui ai ka lā, a mai hāinu nui. Ikaika ka nohu i ka pā ʻana o ka makani, ke ehu kai, a i ka wā maloʻo. E makaʻala hoʻi i nā hua nohu, mai hehi ma luna o ʻeha ka wāwae.
Nohu is also known as the ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi scorpion fish but the spikes on this plant are not poisonous. In fact, the seeds are the favorite food of the now very rare Nihoa finch.
He iʻa kalakala nō hoʻi ka nohu. Akā ʻaʻohe lāʻau make o nā kalakala. Ua lilo ka hua nohu o ka lāʻau i ʻai punahele na ka manu ʻai nohu ʻo Nīhoa.