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Ruta L.

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Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Ruta' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/ruta/). Accessed 2026-05-11.

Family

  • Rutaceae

Common Names

  • Rue

Species in genus

Glossary

inflorescence
Flower-bearing part of a plant; arrangement of flowers on the floral axis.
ovary
Lowest part of the carpel containing the ovules; later developing into the fruit.
capsule
Dry dehiscent fruit; formed from syncarpous ovary.
included
(botanical) Contained within another part or organ.

References

There are no active references in this article.

Credits

Article from Bean's Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles

Recommended citation
'Ruta' from the website Trees and Shrubs Online (treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/ruta/). Accessed 2026-05-11.

Ruta

The glaucous foliage of Ruta graveolens is very attractive. It will thrive in very dry sunny conditions, where growth will be tighter than in richer, moister sites (Scottish Borders, June 2025). Image John Grimshaw.

A small genus of aromatic subshrubs, ranging from the Canary Islands through the Mediterranean region to the Caucasus, with pinnately dissected leaves. Inflorescence cymose, terminal. Flowers yellowish, tetramerous (the terminal flower usually pentamerous). Petals spoon-shaped. Ovary inserted on a raised disk. Fruit a lobed capsule. The closely related Haplophyllum (not treated in this work) has more numerous species, mainly in the E. Mediterranean and Central Asia; it is often included in Ruta as a subgenus.

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