Stem

Highly branched with lengthwise ridges, 1.5-4 ft. tall and lacks hair (glabrous); spines 0.5-1.5 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

Camelthorn flower

Root

Woody, deep, spreading root system; roots often associate with nitrogen-fixing bacteria

Camelthorn pods

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 and Humboldt counties
Perennial; reproduces mostly by roots but sometimes seed

Camelthorn plant

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 or dicamba post emergence; aminopyralid, imazapr, metsulfuron or picloram pre- or post emergence

Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Camelthorn, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Learn more about the author(s)

Heidi Kratsch

Also of Interest:

Camelthorn