African Rue
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African Rue
Zygophyllaceae (Caltrop Family)
Class B Weed
Description: African rue is a many-branched perennial that has an
aggressive, woody root system. Height rarely exceeds 1 to 1.5 feet. Stems
are fleshy. When crunched, the stems have a bitter, acrid taste and a
disagreeable odor. Leaves are alternate, smooth, and divided into linear
segments. Flowers consisting of five white petals are borne singly in leaf
axils along the stems. The fruiting structure has two to four cells, with a
many-seeded capsule.
Origin: North Africa. The first reported infestation in the United
States occurred near Deming, New Mexico, in the 1920s.
Key Characteristics:
- Bushy growth habit
- Fleshy stems and leaves
- Five-petaled, white flower
- Fruiting structure is a capsule
Distribution: African rue is primarily found in the southern counties, but isolated populations have been
documented in central and northwestern counties.
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