Ruta graveolens
Enable an AI agent to recognise Ruta graveolens, assess an individual plant or traceable specimen, and choose evidence-supported observation, cultivation, propagation and handling actions.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
Researched by: Codex + Grok
Purpose and description
Enable an AI agent to recognise Ruta graveolens, assess an individual plant or traceable specimen, and choose evidence-supported observation, cultivation, propagation and handling actions.
Ruta graveolens L. is a glaucous evergreen perennial subshrub of the citrus family (Rutaceae), native to the Balkan-Mediterranean region, with bipinnatisect gland-dotted leaves, dull-yellow tetra- to pentamerous flowers, and a characteristic secondary-metabolite profile (2-undecanone-rich essential oil, flavonol glycosides such as rutin, and phototoxic furanocoumarins) that accounts for its historic medicinal, culinary and ritual use and for its well-documented phytophotodermatitis hazard.
It can be Document leaves, flowers and capsules, then confirm or defer species identification.; Monitor shoots, foliage and reproductive stages to assess change over time.; Adjust cultivation conditions using measured site conditions and observed plant response.; Plan pruning or specimen collection with appropriate contact precautions.; Propagate from traceable material while preserving identification uncertainty.; Assess proposed placement or use against contact exposure, ingestion hazards and local ecological evidence..
Distinguishing features
Inspect intact petal margins: non-fringed, sometimes wavy or toothed margins support Ruta graveolens; conspicuous fringes support Ruta chalepensis. [Comparative botanical study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3733200/)
Inspect developed capsules: blunt lobe apices support Ruta graveolens, whereas sharply projecting apices support Ruta chalepensis; assess these alongside flowers. [Comparative botanical study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3733200/)
Check for alternate, repeatedly divided, glaucous, gland-dotted leaves as supporting evidence; foliage alone does not reliably separate the two species. [Comparative botanical study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3733200/)
For chopped or powdered material sold as rue, require a traceable identification or validated analytical method; a common name and aromatic odour do not establish species identity. [Comparative botanical study](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3733200/)
Scope
+ Identification of living plants and identifiable material, especially separation from Ruta chalepensis
+ Individual growth, foliage condition, woody framework and seasonal development
+ Flowering, capsule maturation and traceable propagation material
+ Relationships between plant condition, growing conditions and associated organisms
+ Plant-contact hazards and constraints on sampling, pruning and proposed use
- Independent models of other Ruta species or plants sharing the common name rue
- Manufacture, composition and quality control of rue oils, extracts and formulated products
- Clinical diagnosis, treatment, medicinal dosing and therapeutic efficacy
- Whole-garden design, soil-system management and regional ecosystem assessment
- Commercial transactions, ownership and jurisdiction-wide regulatory systems
Characteristics
- Identification status
- unassessed | provisional | confirmed against cited identification evidence | conflicting Prevents a nursery label or common name from resolving confusion with other rue species.
- Petal margin
- non-fringed | fringed | damaged | unavailable Provides a practical comparison with Ruta chalepensis.
- Capsule lobe apex
- blunt | sharply projecting | immature | unavailable Supplies reproductive evidence independent of leaf appearance.
- Leaf diagnostic observations
- Recorded arrangement, degree of division, surface colour and visible gland dots Documents supporting identity evidence and distinguishes normal appearance from later deterioration.
- Plant height and canopy width
- cm, with observation date Supports assessment of growth, crowding and response to intervention without assuming a universal mature size.
- Woody framework and shoot condition
- Live buds, new shoots, dead branches and damaged tissue recorded by location Helps determine whether and where pruning or further investigation is warranted.
- Reproductive stage
- vegetative | budding | flowering | immature capsules | mature capsules | seed released; stages may coexist Controls opportunities for identification, seed collection and recruitment monitoring.
- Root-zone moisture and drainage
- Moisture reading with method and depth; hours of observed saturation after watering or rain Provides evidence for irrigation decisions and investigation of decline.
- Propagation origin
- Linked parent plant, seed lot or cutting source, with date and identification evidence Carries species identity and uncertainty into newly propagated plants.
- Handling exposure context
- Intact observation | tissue cutting | sap contact possible | ingestion proposed; record skin protection and sunlight exposure Distinguishes tasks requiring different exposure controls.
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 18 findings · 28 questions.
Rue identity and evidence Establish whether an observed plant or material belongs to this registered species.
Confusion with Ruta chalepensis can transfer incorrect identity into cultivation records and derived material.
Reproductive identification
Use flowers and capsules to test a species assignment.
Petal and capsule agreement
Record whether independently observed petal margins and capsule apices support the same identification.
- Do intact petals lack conspicuous fringes, and do developed capsules have blunt lobe apices? measurement
- If these characters disagree or are unavailable, what additional observation or expert determination is needed before confirming Ruta graveolens? boundary
Specimen and name traceability
Connect names and detached material to an evidenced plant identification.
Identification chain
Separate supplier assertions from determinations supported by photographs, vouchers or validated analyses.
- Who identified this plant as Ruta graveolens, using which reference and retained evidence? provenance
- Can this detached material be linked to that identified plant, or must its species remain unresolved? boundary
Rue growth and condition Interpret changes in foliage and the plant's persistent woody framework.
An agent needs to distinguish appearance associated with this plant from damage and loss of viable growth.
Foliage baseline
Establish the individual's normal leaf appearance before judging decline.
Foliage change
Record changes in colour, turgor and leaf retention relative to earlier observations of the same plant.
- Which leaves have changed from the documented glaucous foliage baseline, and over what interval? measurement
- What evidence distinguishes seasonal change from water stress, physical damage or a suspected disease? boundary
Woody framework and regrowth
Locate viable shoots and damage before shaping or cutting the plant.
Pruning readiness
Base a proposed cut on observed live growth and a locally supported pruning approach.
- Where are live buds, new shoots, dead branches and previous pruning wounds? measurement
- What pruning extent and timing are supported for this plant's condition and local season? action
Rue site and associations Relate growing conditions and visiting organisms to decisions about this plant.
Care decisions require local evidence, including whether leaf feeding conflicts with or serves the planting purpose.
Root zone and exposure
Record the conditions needed to evaluate placement and watering.
Site response
Test care assumptions against drainage, sunlight and observed performance; rue is described as favouring well-drained sites. [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ruta-graveolens/common-name/common-rue/)
- How much direct sunlight reaches this plant, and how long does its root zone remain saturated after rain or watering? measurement
- Which measured condition and observed response justify changing watering, drainage or placement? action
Leaf feeding and flower visits
Record organism interactions without automatically classifying visitors as pests.
Associated organism decision
Connect observed feeding or visitation to organism identity, plant impact and the intended role of the rue planting.
- Which organisms are actually observed feeding or visiting, and what identification evidence is available? provenance
- Does the measured damage warrant intervention, or is tolerating feeding consistent with the planting purpose? action
Rue reproduction and continuity Track reproductive development, propagation provenance and recruitment around the parent.
New plants must inherit a defensible identification, while seed production creates decisions about collection and spread.
Flower-to-seed development
Observe flowering and capsule development on the actual plant.
Seed collection readiness
Separate the presence of capsules from evidence that collection material is mature and viable.
- Which dated observations establish flowering, capsule maturation and the onset of seed release? measurement
- What evidence supports collecting these seeds now, and how will their viability be assessed? action
Propagule origin and recruitment
Maintain parentage records and observe plants appearing beyond the intended planting.
Propagation and retention decision
Keep propagated plants and spontaneous recruits linked to evidence rather than assuming proximity establishes identity.
- Which identified parent or documented lot supplied each cutting or seed batch, and what establishment outcome was observed? provenance
- Should emerging plants be retained, moved or removed given their identification and the site's documented management requirements? action
Rue contact and use constraints Evaluate exposure created by handling or proposed use of the plant.
Routine gardening and traditional-use labels can obscure hazards that materially affect permitted actions.
Contact and light exposure
Record plant contact and subsequent sunlight exposure when planning handling.
Phototoxic contact control
Ruta graveolens-associated phytophototoxicity is documented; pruning and sampling decisions must consider skin contact and light exposure. [Clinical case report](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17303046/)
- Will the task cut or bruise tissue, allow skin contact, or expose contacted skin to sunlight? measurement
- What protective handling procedure and placement controls are needed before this task proceeds? action
Proposed use boundary
Separate evidence of historical use from evidence supporting a particular present action.
Ingestion and product handoff
Rue has documented poison characteristics; species identification does not establish a safe ingestible preparation or dose. [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/ruta-graveolens/common-name/common-rue/)
- Is the proposed action ornamental cultivation, specimen collection, ingestion or preparation of a derived product? definition
- Which proposed actions require a separate toxicological, clinical or product assessment before proceeding? boundary
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Typical garden/common rue (blue-green cultivated stock of the species)
- Compact ornamental clone 'Jackman's Blue' (intensely glaucous foliage)
- Variegated garden clone 'Variegata'
- Wild Balkan and central-eastern Mediterranean populations
- Dried aerial parts used as the herbal drug (Rutae herba)
- Steam-distilled rue essential oil
- Homeopathic Ruta graveolens (mother tincture and potencies)
- Fresh culinary sprigs used in minute quantities in Mediterranean kitchens
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of Ruta graveolens this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- ICN binomial - Ruta graveolens L. - Protologue: Species Plantarum 1: 383 (1753). Family Rutaceae.
- Wikidata - Q212548 - Taxon item for Ruta graveolens.
- NCBI Taxonomy - 3329 - taxid for Ruta graveolens; parent genus Ruta is 3328.
- USDA PLANTS - RUGR - PLANTS symbol for Ruta graveolens L.
- EPPO - RUTGR - EPPO plant code.
- CAS (rue oil) - 8014-29-7 - Common CAS registry number assigned to rue essential oil, not to the living plant.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of Ruta graveolens this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN) - botanical naming of the taxon.
- German Commission E (BfArM / historical Commission E; compiled by the American Botanical Council) - negative (unapproved) monograph for internal herbal use of rue.
- United States FDA, 21 CFR 172.510 - rue listed among natural flavoring substances, with very low use levels rather than as an unrestricted food herb.
- EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 - furocoumarin / bergapten limits that constrain use of phototoxic plant preparations, including rue, in leave-on and sun-exposure products.
- IFRA Standards (International Fragrance Association) - restrictions on phototoxic and methyl-ketone-rich oils such as rue oil in fragrance compounds.
- National pregnancy and abortifacient-herb controls - many medicines regulators contraindicate rue in pregnancy because of documented uterine stimulant and toxicity reports (practice varies by member state; not a single global statute).
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of Ruta graveolens this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Grown as a drought-tolerant ornamental and herb-garden plant, including named glaucous clones.
- Used historically and still occasionally as a bitter culinary herb in very small amounts (e.g. Italian grappa alla ruta; traditional Mediterranean flavouring).
- Handled as a folk medicinal aerial herb (emmenagogue, spasmolytic, topical) despite modern negative safety assessments.
- Standard homeopathic stock (Ruta) used for periosteal and tendon strains - a major contemporary encounter outside gardens.
- Planted as a reputed insect- and cat-deterrent in cottage and companion-plant beds.
- Used in Catholic and Iberian-Latin American folk practice as "herb of grace" / ruda in protective and cleansing rites.
- Minor source plant of rutin historically (industrial rutin now comes mainly from other taxa) and of a 2-undecanone-dominant essential oil used sparingly in flavour and fragrance.
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of Ruta graveolens this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Mature plant height - 40-100 - cm
- Steam-distilled essential oil yield from dried herb - 0.2-0.7 - % (v/w)
- 2-Undecanone (methyl nonyl ketone) in the essential oil - 50-90 - % of oil
- Compound leaf length - 7-15 - cm
- Flower diameter - 12-20 - mm
- Rutin in dried leaf (historic pharmacognosy range) - 1-5 - % dry mass
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of Ruta graveolens this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Phytophotodermatitis: sap plus UVA produces delayed, often bullous burns and long-lasting hyperpigmentation - the principal occupational and garden hazard.
- Systemic toxicity in overdose (gastrointestinal, hepatic, renal, and neurological injury reported after herbal teas or oil).
- Uterine stimulant / abortifacient activity; contraindicated in pregnancy; historic folk use for this purpose is medically unsafe.
- Allergic or irritant contact dermatitis even without sun exposure.
- Mucous-membrane and CNS irritation from the 2-undecanone-rich essential oil.
- Misidentification leading to ingestion of a phototoxic, non-culinary herb in place of a food plant.
- Garden escape and self-seeding in mild Mediterranean-type climates (usually a nuisance, not a major invader).
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of Ruta graveolens this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- English 'rue' / 'herb of grace' is primarily a garden and historical medicinal plant in northern Europe, rarely eaten.
- Italian and other Mediterranean kitchens still flavour spirits or sauces with a sprig; dose is culinary-small, not herbal-tea scale.
- In Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking America, 'ruda' is a major ritual and household plant; material in trade may be R. graveolens or the closely related R. chalepensis.
- In Ethiopia and Eritrea the coffee-herb 'tena adam' is ordinarily Ruta chalepensis, not R. graveolens, though English sources often gloss both as rue.
- Unani and broader West Asian herbal practice treat the plant as sudab, with a different indication set from modern European negative monographs.
- Wild harvest is relevant in the Balkans and eastern Mediterranean; elsewhere almost all material is cultivated.
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of Ruta graveolens this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Ruta chalepensis (fringed rue) - Leaflet margins distinctly ciliate/fringed and flowers more consistently tetramerous in R. chalepensis; R. graveolens has entire to obscurely crenulate leaflet margins and often some pentamerous flowers. Check a flowering shoot, not a vernacular label such as ruda or tena adam.
- Peganum harmala (Syrian rue) - Unrelated (Nitrariaceae); drug part is the seed with harmala alkaloids, not an aromatic bipinnate Rutaceae leaf. Morphology and chemistry do not overlap.
- Dictamnus albus (burning bush) - Also Rutaceae and phototoxic, but a larger perennial with simply pinnate leaves and showy white to pink flowers, not the small yellow rue inflorescence or 2-undecanone leaf odour.
- Thalictrum spp. (meadow-rue) - Name-only confusion (Ranunculaceae). Leaves are not aromatic-glandular; flowers lack rue's yellow tetramerous pattern and the plant has no rue oil or furanocoumarin burn profile.
- Ruta montana and other western Mediterranean Ruta species - Narrower or differently dissected foliage and distinct habit/distribution; confirm with a regional flora rather than the garden-rue concept.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of Ruta graveolens this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Sources
- Species Plantarum, vol. 1, p. 383 (Ruta graveolens) - Original Linnaean publication of the accepted binomial, type locality implicit in the 1753 protologue, and the nomenclatural identity of the taxon.
- Plants of the World Online: Ruta graveolens L. - Accepted name, family placement in Rutaceae, native range in the Mediterranean and Balkans, and distinction from other Ruta species.
- The Complete German Commission E Monographs: Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines (Rue / Raute) - Negative official herbal evaluation of rue for internal use on safety grounds (phototoxicity, uterine activity, organ toxicity), issued via the German Commission E compilation.
- Essential Oil Safety, 2nd edition (rue oil / methyl nonyl ketone) - Composition of Ruta graveolens essential oil (dominance of 2-undecanone), phototoxicity and dermal hazard, and fragrance/therapeutic cautions.
- USDA NRCS PLANTS Database: Ruta graveolens L. - North American registry symbol, naturalized status, and the standard PLANTS identifier for the species.
What the second pass must settle
- Which regional identification keys reliably separate Ruta graveolens from all locally plausible Ruta species when flowers or mature capsules are absent?
- Which authenticated analytical methods can distinguish fragmented or powdered Ruta graveolens from substituted or mixed rue material?
- What locally validated moisture, temperature and pruning limits apply across plant ages and cultivated forms?
- Which propagation timings and viability tests give reliable results for the specific accession and growing environment?
- What local evidence establishes spontaneous spread, associated organisms and exposure-control requirements for the intended planting context?