Fabaceae

Alhagi maurorum

Common Names: Camel thorn

Plant Form: Stiff perennial shrub. Size: Up to 1.5 m tall. Stem: Erect, mostly hairless, finely ribbed, pale greyish-green. Leaves: Bluish green up to 3 cm long, somewhat succulent, at base of spike-tipped side branches. Flowers: Small purplish-red and yellow pea flowers, arising from auxiliary spines in groups of 1-6. Fruit and Seeds: Seed pods up to 3 cm long and narrow with a small beak at tip, containing usually 1-5 small kidney shaped seeds. Habitat: Drainage lines, dried creek beds, arid areas with good subsurface moisture. Distinguishing Features: No known close lookalikes. Impacts: Competes with crop or native plants, forms large patches, can break through bitumen.

Long spines and red pea flowers

Reduced leaves

Foliage is fine and dense

Bushy growth form