goat's-rue

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• goat's-rue
• professor weed
• Goat's Rue
• goat’s-rue
• common milkpea
• goats rue
• professor-weed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Tephrosia tricolor
• Accorombona tricolor
• Galega officinalis var. albiflora
• Galega alba
• Galega bicolor
• Galega biloba
• Galega patula
• Galega persica
• Galega tricolor
• Callotropis tricolor
• Galega coronilloides

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Fabales and the family Fabaceae. Its taxonomic identity is further defined by its placement in the genus Galega.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad presence across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its range includes the territory of Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within the borders of Belgium and Germany. Its distribution further extends through the central territories of Austria. Finally, the plant is also documented as being present throughout the Czechia-Slovakia region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Galega officinalis is characterized by its ability to thrive across a broad altitudinal gradient, ranging from sea level up to an elevation of 500 m AMSL. This species exhibits significant ecological plasticity, colonizing a diverse array of environments including forested areas, open meadows, and shrubberies. It is frequently found in moisture-rich settings such as the banks of rivers, but it also demonstrates adaptability to more disturbed landscapes, such as roadsides. This wide distribution across various habitats allows it to occupy multiple ecological niches within its range.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, meadows, rivers, roadsides, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Galega officinalis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or other debris during unfavorable conditions. This species exhibits a deciduous growth pattern, shedding its foliage annually in response to seasonal changes.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Galega officinalis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This terrestrial plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber or a liana, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic behavior. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits variable height, typically ranging from a minimum of 0.4 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with an average height of approximately 0.85 m. As a purely terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic qualities and thrives in soil-based environments.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.85 m

Plant height min:

0.4 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Galega officinalis is characterized by several distinct morphological and metabolic adaptations, most notably its classification as a nitrogen fixer, which allows the plant to enhance soil fertility through symbiotic relationships. Its carbon assimilation is driven by the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic strategy for temperate species. The foliage exhibits specific structural dimensions, with an average leaf size of 89.86 cm² and individual leaf lengths reaching a maximum of 3.5 cm. Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 429.75 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf density and resource allocation strategies during growth.

Leaf length max:

3.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

89.86 cm²

Nitrogen fixer :

yes

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

429.75 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Galega officinalis is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically commences in July and concludes in August. During this time, the plant utilizes a biotic pollination syndrome specifically mediated by insects, and it is noted that self-fertilization is absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry fruits with an average length of 2.5 cm. The resulting seeds are relatively small, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.0079655 g (ranging from a minimum of 0.0058 g to a maximum of 0.00933 g) and a consistent volume of 8 mm³. Dispersal of these seeds is categorized as unspecialized, meaning the plant does not rely on a highly specific mechanism for spreading its progeny.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

2.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00933 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0079655 g

Seed mass min:

0.0058 g

Seed volume max:

8 mm³

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Galega officinalis has 24 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Galegine, Flavonoids, RUTIN, 4-Hydroxygalegine, CHROMIUM.

Galegine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Planta medica
4. Journal of analytical methods in chemistry

Flavonoids

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

4-Hydroxygalegine

1. Dr. Duke

CHROMIUM

1. Dr. Duke

DEOXYVASICINE

1. Dr. Duke

Daucosterol

1. Dr. Duke

Deoxyvasicinone

1. Dr. Duke

Galegin

1. Dr. Duke

Galuteolin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Galega officinalis has 256 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, (+)-Inotropic, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases : NMCD

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Aldehyde-Oxidase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Galega officinalis has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include diabetes mellitus, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, body fat, body weight, platelet aggregation.

Diabetes mellitus

1. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Type 2 diabetes mellitus

1. Planta medica

Body fat

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Body weight

1. The Journal of pharmacy and pharmacology

Platelet aggregation

1. Folia medica

Preparations

Galega officinalis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extract.

Extract

1. Food science & nutrition
2. Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)