Alhagi maurorum
Camel thorn
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Family: Fabaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Conservation status: Cal-IPC Yes
Alhagi maurorum (Camel thorn) is a non-native California shrub in the Fabaceae family, recognized by West Asian genus representing a specialized desert legume adapted to saline conditions.
Camel thorn is a naturalized shrub found in the southern San Joaquin Valley, southern Sierra Nevada, and desert regions in arid agricultural areas at elevations below 700 meters. Flowering from June to July, this plant produces red-purple flowers about 8 to 9 millimeters long. Growing with much-branched stems 30 to 100 centimeters tall and a light green color, it forms a dense, spreading structure. Its leaves are elliptic or obovate, measuring 7 to 20 millimeters long. The fruit develops as a distinctive pod 1 to 3 centimeters long, with narrow constrictions between seeds.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: West Asian genus representing a specialized desert legume adapted to saline conditions
Habitat and range
Habitat: Uncommon. Arid agricultural areas
Elevation: especially < 700 m
Outside California: sporadic to western Texas, native to western Asia
Bloom period
Alhagi maurorum blooms Jun-Jul.
Conservation status
Cal-IPC Yes
How to tell it apart
vs Ulex: Alhagi has red-purple flowers and beaded pods; Ulex has yellow flowers and densely hairy non-constricted pods.; vs Psorothamnus: Alhagi has smooth surfaces and beaded pods; Psorothamnus has sticky glandular dots and non-constricted single-seeded pods.; vs Robinia: Alhagi has red-purple flowers and beaded pods; Robinia has white to pink flowers and flat splitting pods.; vs Olneya: Alhagi has simple leaves and beaded pods; Olneya has compound leaves and thick non-constricted pods.; vs Pickeringia: Alhagi has red-purple flowers and beaded pods; Pickeringia has pink flowers and flat curved pods.
Frequently asked questions
Is Alhagi maurorum native to California?
No. Alhagi maurorum is not native to California (recorded as not native).
When does Alhagi maurorum bloom?
Alhagi maurorum blooms Jun-Jul.
What plant family does Alhagi maurorum belong to?
Alhagi maurorum is in the Fabaceae family, genus Alhagi.
Is Alhagi maurorum invasive in California?
Alhagi maurorum is listed by Cal-IPC with an invasiveness rating of Yes.
What habitat does Alhagi maurorum grow in?
Alhagi maurorum grows in Uncommon. Arid agricultural areas.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.