Alhagi maurorum aka Caspian Manna

Alhagi maurorum is in the pea family, Fabaceae. People call it camel thorn and Persian manna tree. Despite these names, it does not become a tree. Kew calls it a perennial or subshrub. Its native range starts in southeastern European Russia. It reaches Xinjiang and north-central India. It is not native to Britain or Ireland. It grows in temperate regions through much of this range.

Plants for a Future calls it a deciduous shrub. It sheds its leaves and reaches 6.6 feet [2 metres]. Sharp spines cover its stems, so take care when handling it. It grows on dry, barren land and waste ground. It also grows by ditches and on salty ground. These sites show that it copes with drought and salt. The sources give no mature spread or detailed leaf account.

Plants for a Future gives July as its bloom time. Each flower has both male and female organs. The blooms have a scent. The reported scent comparison is not certain. The plant also forms pods. Sweet manna comes from the twigs around bloom time. One account links this release to hot weather. The pods yield a second sweet manna with a laxative effect. This means it helps the bowels pass stools. The evidence says no more about fruit shape or colour.

Grow this plant in full sun, not shade. It needs soil that drains well. Sandy soil and loam both suit it. It accepts soil that is slightly acid or slightly alkaline. Neutral soil suits it too. Soil can be dry or moist; the plant tolerates salt. Plants for a Future lists USDA zones 6–10. Yet it warns that British winters may call for protection. Bear this in mind when choosing an outdoor site. Root bacteria form nodules and fix nitrogen from the air. Nearby plants may gain some of this nitrogen.

Its scent and nitrogen-fixing roots have uses in garden beds. Plants for a Future warns that it may become weedy. The evidence names no pests or diseases. It reports no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. The sharp stems can still cause harm. People eat the sweet manna. They also eat cooked roots when food is scarce. Reported medical uses include aiding urine flow and easing constipation. Traditional uses include leaf oil for rheumatism and flowers for piles. These reports describe uses; they do not prove medical benefits.