Nitrariaceae

Peganum harmala

Common Names: African rue

Plant Form: Perennial herb or shrub. Size: Up to 80 cm tall. Stem: Hairless, slender. Leaves: Alternately arranged, 2-5 cm long, bright green, deeply divided into 3 or more segments, slightly succulent. Flowers: Cream to white with 5 petals, solitary, about 2.5 cm diameter, on stalks up to 5 cm long. Fruit and Seeds: Rounded, flattened capsules 7-12 mm diameter with blunt tip, with 3 cells, opening at tip, containing 45-60 brown to black pyramid-shaped seeds. Habitat: Waste areas, roadsides, pastures, rangelands. Distinguishing Features: Distinct, without lookalikes. Impacts: Outcompetes with native vegetation, unpalatable and toxic in high doses.