Flora of North America species comparison

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Alhagi

alhagi, camel-thorn
Habit Subshrubs, [shrubs], armed.
Stems

erect, much-branched [sometimes simple], pubescent [glabrous].
Leaves

alternate, unifoliolate;

stipules present; shortly petiolate;

leaflet blade margins entire, surfaces glabrous or pubescent.
Inflorescences

(1 or)2–7-flowered, axillary racemes;

bracts present;

bracteoles present.
Flowers

papilionaceous;

calyx campanulate, lobes 5;

corolla pink to reddish purple;

stamens 10, diadelphous;

anthers dorsifixed;

style filiform, glabrous;

stigma terminal.
Fruits

loments, shortly stipitate, exserted, moniliform to torulose, terete, linear to curved, indehiscent, glabrous [pubescent].
Seeds

(1 or)2–8(–10), reniform to quadrangular.
x

= 8.

Alhagi
Distribution
from USDA
se Europe; c Asia (China, India, Mongolia); ne Africa (Mediterranean Basin) [Introduced in North America; introduced also in South Africa, Australia]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Species 1–5 (1 in the flora).

The number of species recognized in Alhagi is subject to interpretation based on robustness of growth, calyx lobe development, fruit shape, and indument of fruits, calyces, stems, and leaves. K. K. Shaperenko (1972) and K. H. Rechinger (1984b) recognized five species, while G. P. Yakovlev (1979) recognized one species with five subspecies.

Alhagi has served as fodder for camels and other animals in arid areas. In summer, some plants exude a sweet gummy material on the stems and branches that hardens into reddish brown lumps, which are collected by Arab nomads and are used as a food delicacy; this substance has also been used medicinally. The plants are sometimes grown in botanical gardens as a curiosity; they can be serious weeds in both their native and introduced habitats.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Source FNA vol. 11. Author: Richard R. Halse.
Parent taxa Fabaceae > subfam. Faboideae
Subordinate taxa
A. maurorum
Name authority Gagnebin: Acta Helv. Phys.-Math. 2: 59. (1755)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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