African rue is listed as a noxious weed in New Mexico
DEMING - African rue is a succulent perennial herb with a robust, deep-growing root system that is a major obstacle to plant control.
Perennial bushy herb that grows 1 to1.5 feet tall and 3-4 feet in diameter. Has a hardy woody taproot that reaches 25 feet or more downwards into the soil profile. Creeping, lateral roots are produced about 12-15 inches below the surface that can extend up to 20 feet away from the parent plant.
Bright green leaves are alternate, smooth and divided deeply into narrow lobes. Leaves have a very disagreeable odor when crushed.
Single flowers are borne along the stem and in the forks of leaves. Flowers have five white petals and produce a green, orange, or brown-colored cylindrical seed pod with 45-60 seeds.
Reproduces by seed, but new shoots and plants are also produced from adventitious buds along lateral roots. Seed is secured in a leathery fruit capsule; each plant may produce as many as 1,000 capsules.
Luna County Extension Agent Jack Blandford told Deming Radio News that this weed is extremely toxic to cattle, sheep, horses, and humans as it contains at least four poisonous alkaloids.
The seeds and fruit are the most toxic, followed by young leaves and mature leaves. However, animals typically avoid eating African rue because of its bad taste and smell.
Another problems with this weed is that the plants have chemicals that reduce the growth of surrounding native plants.
African Rue is also not easily killed through modern means of weed eradiation.
For more information on African Rue or any other weed, please call Blandford at the Luna County Extension Office at 575-546-8806.
You can hear Jack speak with Deming Radio’s morning personality John Krehbiel each Wednesday Morning – and during the top of the hour Wednesday News on KDEM & KOTS.
DEMING - African rue is a succulent perennial herb with a robust, deep-growing root system that is a major obstacle to plant control.
Perennial bushy herb that grows 1 to1.5 feet tall and 3-4 feet in diameter. Has a hardy woody taproot that reaches 25 feet or more downwards into the soil profile. Creeping, lateral roots are produced about 12-15 inches below the surface that can extend up to 20 feet away from the parent plant.
Bright green leaves are alternate, smooth and divided deeply into narrow lobes. Leaves have a very disagreeable odor when crushed.
Single flowers are borne along the stem and in the forks of leaves. Flowers have five white petals and produce a green, orange, or brown-colored cylindrical seed pod with 45-60 seeds.
Reproduces by seed, but new shoots and plants are also produced from adventitious buds along lateral roots. Seed is secured in a leathery fruit capsule; each plant may produce as many as 1,000 capsules.
Luna County Extension Agent Jack Blandford told Deming Radio News that this weed is extremely toxic to cattle, sheep, horses, and humans as it contains at least four poisonous alkaloids.
The seeds and fruit are the most toxic, followed by young leaves and mature leaves. However, animals typically avoid eating African rue because of its bad taste and smell.
Another problems with this weed is that the plants have chemicals that reduce the growth of surrounding native plants.
African Rue is also not easily killed through modern means of weed eradiation.
For more information on African Rue or any other weed, please call Blandford at the Luna County Extension Office at 575-546-8806.
You can hear Jack speak with Deming Radio’s morning personality John Krehbiel each Wednesday Morning – and during the top of the hour Wednesday News on KDEM & KOTS.