Camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum)

Stem

• Highly branched with lengthwise ridges, 1.5-4 ft. tall and lacks hair (glabrous); spines (0.5 to 1.5 in. long) with yellow tips arise from leaf axils

Leaves

• Alternate, simple, narrow to oblong and 0.25-0.75 in. long; hairs on lower surface only

Flower

• Pea-like; 0.3-0.4 in. long with pink to purple petals; 2-8 flowers occur alternately along short, spine-tipped branches

• Seed pods are reddish-brown, 0.5-1.25 in. long, often curved, tipped with a small spine and contain 5-8 seeds; pods are deeply indented between seeds

Root

• Woody, deep, spreading root system; roots often associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Other

• Grows best in areas where it can access additional water during the growing season; often found in field borders, roadsides and along waterways; known to occur in Clark, Eureka and Lander counties

• Perennial; reproduces mostly by roots but sometimes seed

Control

• Hand removal of individual plants (including roots) can limit spread of small infestations

• Grazing, mechanical removal and burning are NOT effective
• Apply 2,4-D, dicamba, glyphosate or picloram to actively growing plants