Weed of the Week

12-10-07

African Rue, Peganum harmala L.

     

 All images courtesy of Texas Toxic Plants Database.  This material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under a Southern Region IPM Program special project number 97-EPMP-1-0153.

 

 

Characteristics

Family: Zygophyllaceae

Origin: African and Asiatic deserts

Description:

 

• Many branched green succulent perennial herb

Stems:

• 1’ mature height
• grows from a woody base

Flowers:

• Flowers have five white petals present April to September

Leaves:

• Alternate, smooth, hairless and divided into long narrow segments

Fruits:

• 2-4 Celled with many seeds

Additional Information:

            African Rue is a Class A Noxious Weed in the state of Colorado and if found should be eradicated. First found in New Mexico it has spread into Arizona and Texas also. It is toxic to livestock, though they will only eat it as a last resort. The seeds are more poisonous than the leaves.

 

 

 

  

---

Return to Weed of the Week Page

Return to Park Operations Page

---