Camelthorn

I have followed Meikle (Fl.Cyprus, fined.) who has interpreted Alhagi maurorum Medic to be conspecific with Alhagi pseudalhagi (M.Bieb.) Desv. contrary to other workers who regarded it as nomen confusum.

Persian manna or Camel Thorn is used medicinally and as fodder for camels. Sometimes it is also used for making tatties in summer. Vern.: Janasa.

Undershrub, 60-100 cm tall, glabrous or pubescent. Leaf simple, 10-25 mm long, 3-8 mm broad, obovate or elliptic-oblong, glabrous or pubescent, entire, apiculate; petiole c. 2 mm; stipules minute. Inflorescence lateral axillary racemes 1-5 cm long, ending in spine. Pedicel 1-3 mm, with 1-2 minute bracteoles. Calyx 2-2.5 mm, glabrous, teeth almost obsolete to triangular. Corolla 6-9 mm long, pink or reddish - violet. Fruit 19-34 mm long, 2-3mm dorab, glabrous, more or less constricted between the seeds, 1-9-seeded.

Distribution: Pakistan; Kashmir; Iran, Afghanistan; Russia, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Cyprus, N.Africa.

Fl.Per.: April-September.