• Camelthorn Plant 215x150

Category A Weed

Pea family (Fabaceae)

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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