The upper stem of Tribulus terrestris is softly fleshy and sparsely covered in silvery, soft hairs, the internodes turning brownish early. The underdeveloped leaves appear silky from their covering indumentum, the leaflet tips more acute than on fully developed ones.

The stalked, brownish bud in picture is brush-like from the bristly hairs upon the five closed sepals.

The open flower is yellow in the lower halves of its petals, the broad tips cream, not fully straightened yet. Petal length may vary from 3 mm to 12 mm. The superior ovary is sessile, comprising five lobed locules. The stigma is conspicuous, formed from the five in-growing stigma lobes (Manning, 2009; Leistner, (Ed.), 2000; Van Wyk and Malan, 1997; iNaturalist).