Ruta graveolens

national flower of the Republic of Lithuania

Flower name
Ruta graveolens
Scientific name
Ruta graveolens
Aliasrue, Common Rue, wijnruit, ルー
Place of originsouthern Europe (Mediterranean coast)
Place of floweringGarden, Field
Flowering seasonMay, June

What is Ruta graveolens

Ruta graveolens, commonly called rue (scientific name: Ruta graveolens) is a semi-cold hardy evergreen small shrub/perennial herb native to southern Europe, belonging to the genus Ruta of the family Rutaceae. In Dutch (wijnruits) it is called "wijnruit", and in English, rue or Common Rue. It is the national flower of the Republic of Lithuania.

Flower

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The tree is 0.50 to 1 m tall and has an overall greenish color. The leaves are blue-gray, twice pinnately compound, and attached in alternate clusters. The plant has a strong Prickly Ash-like fragrance. 4-petaled yellow flowers, 1.5 to 2 cm in diameter, bloom in June to July in concentrated inflorescences. The petals are finely lobed at the tips, and there is a large green central floral column surrounded by a yellow anther-bearing floral thread. After the flower, a capsule is produced.

Typical plant in "The Seeds of Plants"

It was introduced to Japan around the time of the Meiji Restoration. At the time, it was believed to have medicinal properties as a menstruative, antispasmodic, and anthelmintic, and was also used to flavor dishes, etc. However, due to the toxicity of the leaves and stems, it is not edible today except to flavor grappa. The leaves are beautifully lacy and ornamental, and are a food plant for swallowtail butterfly larvae. It is used as a "cat repellent herb" and insect repellent because of its citrus scent, which cats do not like.
The genus name "Ruta" is derived from the Greek word "reuo" (to set free), which had medicinal value in the past, and the species name "graveolens" means "strongly fragrant" in Greek, which is based on its strong fragrance similar to that of sansho. The language of the flower is "regret.

Common name: Ruta graveolens,scientific name: Ruta graveolens, aka: Rue, henruda, rue, common rue, place of origin: southern Europe (Mediterranean coast), height: 0.50 to 1 m, leaf color: blue-gray. Inflorescence: June-July, inflorescence: alternate, Leaf shape: twice pinnate compound leaf, Aroma: fragrant (prickly), Flowering season: June-July, Inflorescence form: clustered inflorescence; flower color: yellow; flower diameter: 1.5-2 cm; corolla shape: 4-petaled; fruit type: capsule; crude drug name: Geishang; uses: ornamental, cat repellent herb, Chinese medicine, fragrant grappa, food plant for swallowtail butterfly larvae.