Narrowleaf rue

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Narrowleaf rue
• Narrow-leaved fringed rue

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ruta graveolens var. angustifolia
• Ruta chalepensis subsp. angustifolia
• Ruta angustifolia var. attenuata
• Ruta chalepensis var. granatensis
• Ruta chalepensis f. longirrostris
• Ruta chalepensis var. longirrostris
• Ruta chalepensis var. pellucido-punctata
• Ruta chalepensis f. tetuanensis
• Ruta chalepensis var. angustifolia
• Ruta chalepensis var. attenuata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further classified within the order Sapindales and the family Rutaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Ruta.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known as Ruta angustifolia, exhibits a specific geographical distribution across various regions of Southwestern Europe. It can be found growing naturally within the Baleares islands. Additionally, its presence extends to the island of Corse and the coastal areas of France. The species is also documented throughout the territory of Portugal. Finally, its range includes the Mediterranean landscapes of Sardegna.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Ruta angustifolia is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons and maintain its presence within its ecological niche over a long duration. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species exhibits a chamaephyte life form, meaning its perennially produced buds are located close to the soil surface, often protected by leaf litter or the substrate itself. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a chamaephyte growth habit enables the plant to endure seasonal environmental fluctuations and recover effectively after periods of dormancy or disturbance.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ruta angustifolia is characterized by its growth form as a forb, exhibiting a distinct woody structure throughout its development. In terms of its climbing habit, the plant functions as a self-supporting climber, utilizing its own structural integrity rather than relying on external hosts through obligatory or facultative mechanisms. As an independent organism, it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, maintaining its own nutrient acquisition processes. Furthermore, it is a terrestrial species, establishing its root systems within the soil rather than growing as an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ruta angustifolia is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a mechanism wherein carbon dioxide is initially fixed into a three-carbon compound during the Calvin cycle. This metabolic process involves the enzyme RuBisCO facilitating the carboxylation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, which is typical for most temperate and Mediterranean-climate woody shrubs. This C3 pathway dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and carbon assimilation rates, as the plant must balance gas exchange through its stomata with the risks of photorespiration and transpiration. Consequently, its physiological performance is closely tied to environmental factors such as light intensity, temperature, and moisture availability, which influence the efficiency of its photosynthetic apparatus.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Ruta angustifolia is characterized by the production of specialized structures that facilitate the dispersal of genetic material. The plant undergoes a reproductive cycle that culminates in the development of distinct fruits. These fruits exhibit specific morphological properties, transitioning through stages where they can be described as either dry or fleshy depending on the developmental phase and specific species variations within the genus. Specifically, the reproductive output is defined by its fruit dryness, which can manifest as being dry or fleshy, a trait that plays a critical role in how the seeds are distributed within its natural habitat.

Fruit dryness :

dry

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ruta angustifolia has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Fitoterapia
2. Journal of public health in Africa

Chemicals

Ruta angustifolia has 11 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Chalepin, Arborinine, Kokusaginine, Terpenoids, Flavonoid.

Chalepin

1. Pharmacognosy magazine
2. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
3. Fitoterapia

Arborinine

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Fitoterapia

Kokusaginine

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Fitoterapia

Terpenoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Journal of public health in Africa

Flavonoid

1. Journal of public health in Africa

Furocoumarins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Graveoline

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Pseudane IX

1. Fitoterapia

Rutamarin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

angustifolin

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Ruta angustifolia has 5 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antiviral, Anticancer, Antifungal, Antioxidant, Antiproliferative.

Antiviral

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
2. Fitoterapia

Anticancer

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antifungal

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antiproliferative

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Ruta angustifolia has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include cancer, hepatitis C virus, Porphyromonas gingivalis, jaundice, liver disease.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations