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Class A Noxious Weed

Goatsrue
Galega officinalis
 

Goatsrue

Other common names: Professor weed
Plant family: Leguminosae/Fabaceae
Year listed: 1999
Native to: Central and Southern Europe and Western Asia

Why is it a noxious weed?

Goatsrue is a federally listed noxious weed.  Goatsrue is unpalatable and toxic to sheep. Goatsrue is capable of forming monocultures in wetland communities, displacing native or beneficial plants. Wetland
wildlife vacate these areas once their food source or nesting material is gone. Goatsrue is fatal if
ingested.

How would I identify it?
General Description: From 2–6 feet tall. Each plant can produce up  to 20 stems from a vigorous crown and a deep tap root.

Leaves:

  • alternate odd-pinnate, with six to ten pairs of leaflets
  • tip of each leaflet has a small hair-like appendage

Flowers:

  • pea like
  • whitish to bluish to purplish
  • found in terminal or axillary racemes

Stems:

  • hollow, cylindrical, tubular

Line drawings are taken from 1,000 Weeds of North America, copyright of XID Service, Inc and used with permission. Permission granted by the author.

How does it reproduce?
Goatsrue reproduces by seed.

Where does it grow?

Cropland, ditch banks, irrigation waterways, uncut pastures, fencelines, roadways and wet, marshy
areas.

What is the distribution in Washington State?
 

 

  • Distribution map not available at this time.

How do I control it?

General control methods: Mowing, clipping and cutting are not recommended as a solitary control method.
Flowers will be produced on very small plants.

Cultural:  Alternative cropping and row crops are effective, as cultivation interrupts the life cycle of goatsrue.

Herbicide: The rates for various chemical control options are found in the annually updated Pacific Northwest Weed Control Handbook, or contact your county weed coordinator.

Biological: None known.

Are there plants that may be confused with Goatsrue?

Wild licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) is similar in appearance. If you need help with identification, county weed coordinator

 

For more information
For more information, download our Written Findings.

 

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Goatsrue infestation
Goatsrue infestation-close up

 Last updated July 10, 2008