Camelthorn (Alhagi maurorum)


Category A Weed

Pea family (Fabaceae)

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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

Images

Camelthorn Plant 215x150
Mature plant
Camelthorn Spine 215x150
Spine
Camelthorn Flower
Flower
Camelthorn Leaves and stem
Leaves and stem
Camelthorn Seed Pod
Seed Pod
Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide
Nevada Noxious Weed Guide