Rue
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 Fringed Rue
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Between 8-40 species, including: |
Rue (Ruta) is a genus of strongly scented evergreen subshrubs 20-60 cm tall, in the family Rutaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia and southwest Asia. Different authors accept between 8-40 species in the genus. The most well-known species is the Common Rue.
The leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate, with a feathery appearance, and green to strongly glaucous blue-green in colour. The flowers are yellow, with 4-5 petals, about 1 cm diameter, and borne in cymes. The fruit is a 4-5 lobed capsule, containing numerous seeds.
Twigs of rue were often used as a kind of bookmark in ancient times due to its strong scent and natural bug repellent properties[citation needed].
It was used extensively in middle eastern cuisine in olden days, but because it is very bitter, it is usually not suitable for most modern tastes. However, it is still used certain parts of the world, particularly in northern Africa.
[edit] Literary references
Rue has sometimes been called "herb-of-grace" in literary contexts. It is one of the flowers distributed by the mad Ophelia in William Shakespeare's Hamlet (IV.5):
- "There's fennel for you, and columbines:
- there's rue for you; and here's some for me:
- we may call it herb-grace o' Sundays:
- O you must wear your rue with a difference..."
In a song named Her Ghost in the Fog by the black metal band, Cradle of Filth on their Midian album.
- "An inquisitive glance, like the shadows, they cast
- On my Love picking rue by the light of the Moon."
The progressive metal band Symphony X named a song "Absinthe and Rue" on their first album, Symphony X.
- "Absinthe and Rue
- twisted wings of paranoia
- twilight runs through eyes of ignorance..."
Many traditional English folk songs use rue to symbolise regret. Often it is paired with thyme - thyme used to symbolise virginity, and rue the regret supposed to follow its loss.
Rue is considered a national plant of Lithuania and it is the most frequently referred herb in Lithuanian folk songs, as an attribute of young girls, associated with virginity and maidenhood.
[edit] See also
- Harmal (Peganum harmala), an unrelated plant also known as "Syrian rue"
