Ruta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ruta |
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| Ruta chalepensis, also known as fringed rue | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Rutaceae |
| Subfamily: | Rutoideae |
| Genus: | Ruta L. |
| Species | |
Ruta (often called rue) is a group of plants known for their strong smell. They are small, evergreen subshrubs, which means they are woody plants smaller than a bush. They usually grow between 20 and 60 centimeters tall. These plants are originally from the Mediterranean area, Macaronesia (islands in the Atlantic Ocean), and southwest Asia. There are about ten different types of rue plants. The most famous one is Ruta graveolens, simply called common rue.
The leaves of rue plants look like feathers and can be green or a cool blue-green color. Their flowers are yellow and have 4 or 5 petals, each about 1 centimeter wide. These flowers grow in clusters. After flowering, the plant produces a fruit that looks like a small, round box with 4 or 5 sections. This fruit holds many tiny seeds.
Types of Rue Plants
As of September 2021, the website "Plants of the World Online" lists ten accepted types of rue:
- Ruta angustifolia
- Ruta chalepensis
- Ruta corsica
- Ruta graveolens
- Ruta lamarmorae
- Ruta lindsayi
- Ruta microcarpa
- Ruta montana
- Ruta oreojasme
- Ruta pinnata
Traditional Uses of Rue
For a very long time, since the Middle Ages, people have added rue to wines (both white and red). They did this to make the wine taste better and to help it last longer. For example, the Dutch name for rue, wijnruit, actually means "wine rue." In Italy, rue is added to a strong drink called grappa to make "Grappa alla Ruta." Even though people knew rue could be a little bit harmful, they still used it in wine because its effects were usually mild.
Important Safety Information
You need to be careful when putting rue on your skin. If the oil or leaves touch your skin and then you go out in the sun, it can cause your skin to blister. This is called phototoxicity. Some people are much more sensitive to this than others, so it's best to be very cautious.
See also
In Spanish: Ruta (planta) para niños
