[Wikipedia] Ecology, Noxious weed: Alhagi maurorum is a noxious weed outside its native range. It is a contaminant of alfalfa seed, and grows readily when accidentally introduced to a cultivated field. It has a wide soil tolerance, thriving on saline, sandy, rocky, and dry soils. It does best when growing next to a source of water, such as an irrigation ditch. It is unpalatable to animals and irritating when it invades forage and grazing land. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)

[Wikipedia] Mediterranean to Russia native: Alhagi maurorum is a species of legume commonly known, variously, as camelthorn,[1] camelthorn-bush,[1] Caspian manna,[1] and Persian mannaplant.[1] This shrub is native to the region extending from the Mediterranean to Russia, but has been introduced to many other areas of the world, including Australia, southern Africa, and the western United States. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)

[Cal-IPC] Invasive behavior: Alhagi maurorum (camelthorn) is an herbaceous perennial or shrub (family Fabaceae) found in the central valley, southeastern Sierra Nevada and portions of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of California. It favors arid agricultural areas, grasslands, meadows and desert riparian areas. One camelthorn plant can spread rapidly (about 10 m per year in all directions) by developing many new plants from its large creeping root system. Plants may resprout from roots left behind after mechanical removal, and the roots are stimulated to resprout by fire. Camelthorn seeds are also known to disperse over long distances. Cal-IPC Rating: Moderate (link added by Mary Ann Machi)