Common Name: Goat's Rue

General Information

Galega officinalis is an erect, herbaceous perennial plant growing from a deep taproot. It produces a cluster of branched stems 80 - 150cm tall[].
The plant has a long history of herbal use, and has often been cultivated for this purpose in the past. It is still used in herbal medicine, but is more likely to be harvested from the wild. It is sometimes grown as a green manure and is often grown as an ornamental.
Galega officinalis is often grown outside its native range as an ornamental, is cultivated as a green manure and has in the past often been grown for medicinal use. The plant has escaped fom cultivation in some areas and can form dense thickets, interfering with the native flora. It is listed as a noxious weed in the USA[].

Known Hazards

The plant contains the alkaloid galegin, which lowers the blood pressure and paralyzes the central nervous system. It can be toxic to ruminants in larger quantities[].

Botanical References

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Range

Eurasia - France to Spain, east through Poland to southeast Rusia, through Italy to Greece, Turkey and Azerbaijan; N. Africa - Morocco, Algeria

Habitat

Scrub, woods, marshy fields and roadsides[]. Grows best in moist conditions such as riversides and wet meadows; at elevations up to 1,600 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	1.20 m
Growth Rate	Fast
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	No
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most soils but repays generous treatment[, ]. Prefers full sun and a deep moist soil[, ] but it also succeeds in light shade[]. Grows well even in poor soils[], and is tolerant of saline conditions[]. Plants are very tolerant of neglect and can be grown in quite coarse grass, which can be cut annually in the autumn[, ].
A long-lived plant[], it can be invasive in good growing conditions[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

Leaves - cooked[]. Used like spinach[, ]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

The herb is used as a substitute for rennet in curdling plant milks etc[].

Medicinal

Goat's rue was once important in the treatment of plague, fevers and infectious diseases[]. It is still used in modern herbalism, though mainly for its effect in promoting milk-flow in lactating mothers (it has been shown to increase the flow of milk in cows and goats by 35 - 50%[, , ]) and for its positive effect on the digestive system[]. The plant contains galegine, an alkaloid that strongly reduces blood sugar levels which make it useful in the treatment of diabetes[].

The leaves and flowering tops are diaphoretic, diuretic, galactogogue and hypoglycaemic[, , , ]. It has also been used in the treatment of fevers[, ]. It is taken internally to treat insufficient lactation, late-onset diabetes, pancreatitis and digestive problems, especially chronic constipation caused by a lack of digestive enzymes[].
The plant is harvested as it is just coming into flower and is dried for later use[].
Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity.

Agroforestry Uses:

A fast-growing plant, it makes a good green manure crop, enriching the soil with organic matter and also fixing atmospheric nitrogen[].
The plant has potential as a natural fertilizer on saline soils[].

Other Uses

The plant is used cosmetically in hand and foot bathes[].
An extract of the hern is used as an ingredient in commercial cosmetic preparations, where it acts as a skin conditioner[].

Propagation

Seed - it has a hard seedcoat and benefits from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing.Spring-sown seed can be slow to germinate, a period of cold stratification may improve the germination time. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out into their permanent positions in the summer.
If you have sufficient seed, then it is possible to sow outdoors in situ in mid to late spring.
The seed can remain viable for at least 10 years.
Division in spring or autumn[]. Larger clumps can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, though it is best to pot up smaller clumps and grow them on in a cold frame until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the spring.