Blecker, L., Creech, E., Dick, J., Gephart, S., Hefner, M., Kratsch, H., Moe, A., Schultz, B. 2020, Nevada Noxious Weed Field Guide – African rue, Extension, University of Nevada, Reno, Field Guide

Stem

  • Up to 2 ft. tall; highly branched and bushy
African Rue
African Rue

Leaves

  • Alternate, bright green and deeply divided; leaflets strap-like (linear), narrow, 0.75-2 in. long, fleshy, lack hair (glabrous) and have smooth edges (margins)
African rue African Rue 

 

Flower

  • 5 white petals surround a yellow center; 1 in. diameter; occur at leaf axils along stems
  • 5 strap-like, fleshy, green sepals (0.5 in. long) that resemble leaves that are found below flower
  • Seed pod is a small (less than 0.5 in. diameter), round capsule with 2-4 chambers; can be green orange or brown.
African rue flower
Close-up of African Rue flower

Root

  • Woody, branched taproot with short, creeping roots
African Rue
Adult plant

 

Other

  • Grows best in dry, disturbed sites; often infests roadsides, waste areas, washes and desert areas; known to occur in Churchill, Mineral, Washoe, and White Pine counties.
  • Perennial; reproduces by both seeds and roots
  • All plant parts poisonous to livestock and humans
 

Control

  • Repeatedly dig or pull individual plants; remaining roots can produce new plants
  • Apply glyphosate, imazapyr or metsulfuron to actively growing plants

Learn more about the author(s)

Heidi Kratsch
Heidi Kratsch
 

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