Front Range Seed Analysts
1997 Seed Forum Volume 11 Number 4
Alhagi maurorum Medikus synonyms: Alhagi pseudalhagi Bieb.,
Alhagi
camelorum Fisch.
Family: Fabaceae
common names: Camelthorn, Cames Thorn, Camel-thorn, Caspian Manna, Persian Manna (Camels like to eat it in its native range of Iran and west to Cyprus)
This seed is proposed as an addition to the Colorado Noxious Weed Seed list.
This plant is perennial with somewhat woody stems that die back to the ground every year. The non-dehiscent seedpods are constricted between 5 to 8 mottled greenish brown seeds. The seeds turn dark brown when ripe.
It was accidentally introduced to the United States around 1915 in shipments of alfalfa seed from Turkestan and in caniel dung packing around date palm off shoots. It was declared noxious in alfalfa fields of the Imperial valley of California in 1921. It spread by hay to Washington and was declared noxious there in 1955. Presently, it is found in WA,CA,NV,UT,AZ,NM and TX. It grows along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. Livestock spread the seeds. Root pieces also spread through waterways. High winds may blow the aerial parts as a "tumbleweed" similar to russian thistle seed dispersal.
information from:
USGS Biological Resources Division, Colorado Plateau Field Station,
Flagstaff AZ. Web page: www.nbs.nau.edu Author: Julie Zimmerman