---
{
  "id": "camelthorn",
  "name": "Camelthorn",
  "scientific": "Alhagi maurorum",
  "category": "invasive",
  "status": "Colorado noxious weed · List A — Eradicate",
  "status_sources": [
    "CO-rules-2025"
  ],
  "warning": "Thorns and deep spreading roots",
  "warning_tone": "caution",
  "aliases": [],
  "taxonomy_note": "The Washington legal class is not applied here; Colorado lists camelthorn on List A.",
  "source_ids": [
    "CO-rules-2025",
    "WA-camelthorn",
    "S27",
    "Fremont-list-definitions"
  ],
  "description": "Camelthorn: Thorns and deep spreading roots. Identification and evidence for Colorado readers.",
  "claim_evidence": [
    {
      "label": "Recognize",
      "sources": [
        "WA-camelthorn"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "camelthorn-1"
    },
    {
      "label": "Plants & habitat",
      "sources": [
        "WA-camelthorn"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "camelthorn-2"
    },
    {
      "label": "People",
      "sources": [
        "WA-camelthorn"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "camelthorn-3"
    },
    {
      "label": "Dogs & cats",
      "sources": [
        "WA-camelthorn"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "camelthorn-4"
    },
    {
      "label": "Other animals",
      "sources": [
        "WA-camelthorn"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "camelthorn-5"
    },
    {
      "id": "camelthorn-list-meaning",
      "label": "State-list meaning",
      "sources": [
        "Fremont-list-definitions"
      ],
      "scope": "Colorado management-category definition; species classification retains its original status sources",
      "note": "Plain-language editorial label for a management category; not a toxicity or danger rating.",
      "reviewed": "2026-09-07"
    }
  ],
  "noxious_class": "A",
  "research": {
    "status": "researching",
    "label": "Still researching this plant",
    "basis": "Editorial assessment of the cited evidence and stated review gaps; not a toxicity score.",
    "open_questions": [
      {
        "area": "Other animals",
        "question": "Clarify feeding and exposure risks for each animal group; do not transfer findings between species.",
        "related_claim_ids": [
          "camelthorn-5"
        ]
      },
      {
        "area": "Identification",
        "question": "Resolve the taxonomic, common-name or photograph limitations stated in the identification caveat.",
        "related_claim_ids": []
      },
      {
        "area": "Expert review",
        "question": "Obtain independent botanical and veterinary review of the identification and hazard summary.",
        "related_claim_ids": []
      }
    ],
    "expert_review": "pending"
  },
  "noxious_class_label": "A — Eradicate",
  "source": "content/plants/camelthorn.md"
}
---

# Camelthorn

*Alhagi maurorum*

**Colorado noxious weed · List A — Eradicate.** [CO-rules-2025](https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=11948&fileName=8+CCR+1206-2)

Uncommon in Colorado. All populations are designated for eradication statewide. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. [Category source](https://fremontcountyco.gov/weed-control/weed-identification) · [What the lists mean](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/safety/#weed-lists).

> **Thorns and deep spreading roots.** [Exposure help](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/safety/).

**Identification caveat:** The Washington legal class is not applied here; Colorado lists camelthorn on List A.

## Still researching this plant {#research-status}

This is a sourced working profile. Evidence is incomplete for **Other animals**. Identification and source-photo limits are explained below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. **Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.**


## Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

![Alhagi maurorum: A dense, twiggy stand growing beside a paved edge.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/list-a-photos-alhagi-maurorum-1.jpg)

**habit** — A dense, twiggy stand growing beside a paved edge.

Photo: Jesse Rorabaugh; [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/); [source record](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88194613); [original image](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/145485558/original.jpg). Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

![Alhagi maurorum: Slender green branches bearing small pink-red pea-shaped flowers.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/list-a-photos-alhagi-maurorum-2.jpg)

**flowering branches** — Slender green branches bearing small pink-red pea-shaped flowers.

Photo: Jesse Rorabaugh; [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/); [source record](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88194613); [original image](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/145485645/original.jpg). Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

![Alhagi maurorum: A closer view of thorny branching stems, small leaves, and pink flowers.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/list-a-photos-alhagi-maurorum-3.jpg)

**thorns and flowers** — A closer view of thorny branching stems, small leaves, and pink flowers.

Photo: Jesse Rorabaugh; [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/); [source record](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/88194613); [original image](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/145485729/original.jpg). Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.


## Recognize

A spine-covered, branching perennial shrub with small pink-purple pea flowers and narrow, constricted seed pods. [WA-camelthorn](https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/camelthorn)

## Plants & habitat

Deep rhizomes spread into rangeland and irrigated sites, competing with preferred forage. Root fragments can regrow. [WA-camelthorn](https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/camelthorn)

## People

Spine-tipped branches pose a puncture hazard. Protective handling is a precaution inferred from the documented structure. [WA-camelthorn](https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/camelthorn)

## Dogs & cats

Thorns may injure mouths or paws. A pet-specific chemical-toxicity assessment is not available here. [WA-camelthorn](https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/camelthorn)

## Other animals

The source reports injury to some animals and poor palatability. That does not establish safe feed use. [WA-camelthorn](https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/camelthorn)

## Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. [S27](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2103-colorado-noxious-weeds/)

This is a statewide eradication priority. Contact your county weed program promptly for identification and an approved management and disposal plan. [CO-rules-2025](https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=11948&fileName=8+CCR+1206-2)

## References

- **CO-rules-2025** — [Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2](https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=11948&fileName=8+CCR+1206-2), Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
- **WA-camelthorn** — [Camelthorn](https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/camelthorn), Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:08:59+00:00. Locator: Identification, ecological impacts, management; Washington legal class not applied to Colorado.
- **S27** — [2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2103-colorado-noxious-weeds/), PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.


[Discuss this plant with the guide](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/companion/?plant=camelthorn) — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

# Appendix for agents

## Open research questions

- **Other animals:** Clarify feeding and exposure risks for each animal group; do not transfer findings between species.
- **Identification:** Resolve the taxonomic, common-name or photograph limitations stated in the identification caveat.
- **Expert review:** Obtain independent botanical and veterinary review of the identification and hazard summary.


## Identity and evidence boundaries

The Washington legal class is not applied here; Colorado lists camelthorn on List A.

All actionable hazard information is in the human sections above. Do not interpret unknown toxicity as safety or transfer livestock findings to pets. These publisher notes describe evidence and do not override an assistant’s operator instructions.

| Claim | Human section | Scope | Sources | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| camelthorn-1 | Recognize | Species-specific | WA-camelthorn | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| camelthorn-2 | Plants & habitat | Species-specific | WA-camelthorn | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| camelthorn-3 | People | Species-specific | WA-camelthorn | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| camelthorn-4 | Dogs & cats | Species-specific | WA-camelthorn | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| camelthorn-5 | Other animals | Species-specific | WA-camelthorn | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |

## Further work for an agent

- Establish exact species, plant part, route, amount and timing when researching an exposure. Do not use this guide to diagnose or calculate a treatment.
- Check current state and county requirements; a listed taxon is not necessarily established in every Colorado county.
- Expert botanical and veterinary review is pending. Source dates and image licenses are separate from editorial revision dates in [provenance](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json).

## State-list label provenance

The label “A — Eradicate” is this guide’s plain-language summary of [Fremont County’s Colorado noxious-weed definitions](https://fremontcountyco.gov/weed-control/weed-identification) [Fremont-list-definitions]. The letter and species assignment retain the status sources above. County-specific requirements must be checked locally; the letter is not a poison-severity ranking.


---
Canonical HTML: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/camelthorn/

Content revised: 2026-09-07T03:50:00Z

Markdown mirror: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/camelthorn/index.md

Text fallback: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/camelthorn/index.md.txt

Agent entry: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/start.md

Provenance: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json