A Grammatical Dictionary of Botanical Latin

tribuloides (adj.B): resembling the genus Tribulus, Caltrop; (usu. of fruit) with conspicuous spines, prickles or thorns; see bristly; see bur-like;

Castanopsis tribuloides, DC, with aptly named synonyms Quercus ferox and Q. armata.

Quercus tribuloides, Caltrop-fruited Oak, in reference to the spinous calyx of the fruit, covering the nut, hence the acorns are spiked or muricate, armed with rigid, prominent, sharp thorns to 1/4 inch in length, spreading in every direction.

Carex tribuloides Wahlenb. “like Tribulus, the Caltrop” (Fernald 1950), perhaps in reference to the bristling thin, scale-like, lanceolate perigynia in the fertile heads.

Cenchrus tribuloides L., Sand-spur, “like Tribulus, Caltrop” (Fernald 1950); the genus Cenchrus (Sandbur, Burgrass) has a rounded involucre “of rigid connate spines” and “spiny burs terminating the culm and branches” (Fernald 1950).