Camelthorn

Alhagi maurorum Medik.

Fabaceae (Legume Family)

seedling ▲

mature, flowering plant ▲

closer view of flowering stems with spines ▼▲

flowering stem with spines ▼▲

flowers and fruit ▼▲

young, non-flowering, spiny stems ▼▲

 

plant with many seed pods ▲

stem with many seed pods ▲

Colony of many plants near Winslow, Arizona ▲

Not found in midwest, but a serious weed south and west of midwest area.

Camelthorn:  (not in Weeds of the Great Plains, nor Weeds of the Northeast)

·         An invasive, creeping perennial weed in the Legume family with fairly deep creeping roots

·         Found in rangeland and dry riverbeds in southwestern U.S.—not found in Midwest, yet

·         Forms dense thickets of 1-3 foot tall stems with tiny single leaves

·         Has brght green, wiry stems, covered with 0.5-1 inch long thorns at bases of leaves or at tips of short branch spurs

·         Pea-like flowers are reddish-pink and about ½” tall and slightly narrower

·         Slender, segmented pods 1-2” long follow flowers; pods are tan to brown or black

·         Found in dry washes, riverbeds, saline soils of southwest

·         Not palatable to livestock and can overtake grazing lands