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Common Name Camelthorn Botanical Name Alhagi maurorum Medik. Status Camelthorn is one of only fourteen weeds proclaimed as a State Prohibited Weed in Victoria. This is the highest category to which a noxious weed can be allocated and means that camelthorn is to be eradicated if possible from the State. Origin Camelthorn is considered native in areas from India to Asia Minor and southern Russia. Description An erect perennial shrub to 1.5 m high, although often 25 to 60 cm high. Stems - mature stems are smooth, young stems are hairy. Stems may have many branches which have sharp yellow tipped spines 1 to 2.5 cm long. Leaves - blue-green in colour with smooth edges, up to 2.5 cm long, lance shaped to ovate; often more apparent on lower branches than upper. Flowers - pea-like, 7 to 10 mm long, brown to red and purple in colour; in clusters of 1 to 8 towards the ends of branches, on short stalks off spines or small branches. Seeds - kidney shaped, 2 to 3 mm long and 2 mm wide, smooth and yellow to reddish brown in colour; formed in reddish brown pods with pointed tips which are tightly waisted between seeds. Usually one to five seeds per pod, occasionally more. Roots - extensive both vertically and laterally. New stems shoot up from lateral roots. Life Cycle Seeds germinate and new shoots grow up from lateral roots in spring. Flowering occurs in spring and summer and the topgrowth dies in autumn.  Figure 1: Camelthorn Dispersal Infestations incrementally increase in size by growth of the lateral root system. The major means of spread is by broken fragments of roots resulting from cultivation or earth moving activities. Root fragments will survive and produce new plants. The seed coat may need scratching to stimulate germination, therefore seeds are probably not a major means of spread. However seed is most likely to be viable when passed through grazing animals and so may be spread with stock movement. Sheep and cattle will graze camelthorn. Seed may also be spread as a contaminant of seed crops. General Camelthorn has grown up through a crack of a concrete slab house foundation, demonstrating the vigour and competitiveness of the root system of this weed. The distribution of camelthorn in Victoria extends from near Merbein and Irymple in the northwest to Chiltern in the north east, mainly within 40km of the Murray River. Chemical Control Under Victorian legislation there are controls on various aspects of the uses of agricultural chemicals. Some particular uses are prohibited and some require permits. Users of certain agricultural chemicals are required to obtain an Agricultural Chemical User Permit (ACUP) or work under the direct supervision of an ACUP holder. Additional restrictions on the use of some herbicides apply to particular geographic areas known as Chemical Control Areas (CCA). It is the responsibility of chemical users to familiarise themselves with these controls. See Agriculture Note: Agricultural chemical user permits (ACUP) and chemical control areas(CCA) for further information. Restrictions on use in CCAs apply to the chemicals marked with a dagger (#) in the following list. Contact the Regional Chemical Standards Officer of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment if further advice is required. You should read the product label and follow all label instructions carefully before using any herbicide. Use a product containing the following combination of active constituents that is registered for use in Victoria to control camelthorn in the particular situation in which you need to use chemical control, eg. in pastures. Consult the product label for detailed information.
This list of chemicals is based on information supplied to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment by the National Registration Authority for Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (NRA). The State of Victoria through the Department of Natural Resources and Environment has not assessed or checked the accuracy of the information supplied to it from the NRA as that responsibility rests with the NRA. Important Any person who believes they have located an infestation of camelthorn, regardless of the area, please notify a Catchment Management Officer at a local office of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. References
Acknowledgements Prepared by R Williamson; KTRI 1996. Updated by I. Faithfull, KTRI, January 1998. Active constituents information supplied by Chemical Standards Branch December 1997. This note replaces note number PPA0002 The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. |
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© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2008.
This document was published on 26/10/2008.