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Alhagi maurorum - Medik.

Common Name Camel Thorn
Family Fabaceae or Leguminosae
USDA hardiness 6-10
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Edges of ditches, waste and often saline places etc in Turkey[93]. Grows in dry barren places[146].
Range W. Asia - Caucasus to the Himalayas.
Edibility Rating    (2 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (2 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Alhagi maurorum Camel Thorn


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alhagi_maurorum_Taub123b.png
Alhagi maurorum Camel Thorn

 

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Summary


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of shrub
Alhagi maurorum is a deciduous Shrub growing to 2 m (6ft 7in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 7. It is in flower in July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

A. camelorum. A. persarum. Hedysarum pseudalhagi.

Plant Habitats

 Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Manna
Edible Uses:

A sweet-tasting manna is exuded from the twigs at flowering time[2, 22, 105, 177]. It is exuded during hot weather according to one report[1]. It contains about 47% melizitose, 26% sucrose, 12% invert sugar[114]. Another manna is obtained from the pods - it is sweet and laxative[61]. Root - cooked. A famine food, it is only used in times of need[46, 61, 177].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Diaphoretic  Diuretic  Expectorant  Laxative

The whole plant is diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant and laxative[46, 114]. An oil from the leaves is used in the treatment of rheumatism[238]. The flowers are used in the treatment of piles[238].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer  Scented Plants

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a sunny position in a well-drained light or medium soil. Plants are not very hardy in Britain, they can be grown outdoors in the summer but require protection in the winter[1]. The stems of the plant are covered in sharp spines[245]. Like the closely related gorse (Ulex europaea) the flowers have a pineapple scent[245]. (A slightly strange report because the gorse flowers have a strong coconut fragrance[K].) This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

Type a value in the Celsius field to convert the value to Fahrenheit:

Fahrenheit:

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Plant Propagation

Seed - pre-soak the seed for 12 hours in warm water and sow March/April in a warm greenhouse. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least the first winter. Plant out into their permanent positions in the summer. Cuttings of young shoots in a frame[1].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

TEMPERATE ASIA: Kuwait, Afghanistan, Cyprus, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Russian Federation-Ciscaucasia (Ciscaucasia), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russian Federation (Dagestan), Russian Federation-Western Siberia (Western Siberia (south)), Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, China (northwest) TROPICAL ASIA: India (north), Pakistan EUROPE: Russian Federation-European part (European part (south))

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

A. maurorum and one or more of its synonyms are listed as a noxious weed in seven states of USA and it has been declared a state prohibited weed in Victoria, Australia and a regulated invasive species in South Africa. A. maurorum has been introduced as contaminant of fodder and spread by livestock. It is a most hardy and aggressive species and it is very difficult to eradicate and manage the established populations because of its extensive root system.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed.

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Alhagi manniferaManna TreeShrub1.0 -  LMNDM22 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

Expert comment

Author

Medik.

Botanical References

193

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment

Zahra Hashemi   Tue Oct 28 2008

Iread this page.Its useful. Please decide to work on petals of this plant (biochemistry and development). Please send information in this field.

Keith Johnson   Thu Oct 22 2009

Another zone "0" legume that won't grow in the UK? It's NOT zone 0 then.

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