African rue

Peganum harmala

Family: Nitrariaceae

Other Common Names: harmal, wild rue, Syrian rue
Weed class: monitor list
Year Listed: 2017
Native to: parts of Africa, Asia, and Europe
Is this Weed Toxic?:

humans, livestock

Why Is It a Noxious Weed?

This plant is on the monitor list - it is not a listed noxious weed in Washington. There are no known populations of African rue in Washington at this time. Please contact its sponsor Greg Haubrich (ghaubrich@agr.wa.gov) to report locations or for more information.

How would I identify it?

General Description

This herbaceous perennial grows from a deep taproot. Plants are bright green and can have a whitish-bluish hue. Leaves are alternate, narrow and lobed. Plants have single white flowers that form small capsules with many seeds.

Flower Description

Solitary white flowers grow on short stems (1-2 cm) from leaf axils (where the leaf meets the stem). Each flower has 5 narrow, green sepals, 5 white petals, and 15 stamens.

Leaf description

The leaves are alternately arranged and irregularly divided into narrow, smooth lobes. Leaves have an unpleasant odor when crushed.

Stem description

Stems are highly branched, giving the appearance of a small shrub, but die back each year.

Fruit Seed Description

Flowers form leathery capsules, each with three chambers that contain 45-60 dark brown seeds.

Where does it grow?

African rue can grow in dry conditions, even semi-desert to desert habitats. It can grow in a variety of soils, tolerating alkaline and saline soils. Noted areas it could be found include: disturbed sites such as roadsides, fields, and into rangelands.