| Picture | Title | Caption | Copyright |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering habit | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Flowering habit. Glasweiner Wald, Merkersdorf, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Inflorescence | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Inflorescence. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Flowering habit | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Flowering habit. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Flowering habit | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Flowering habit. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Plant | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Plant. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Inflorescence | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Inflorescence. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Stem with stipules | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Stem with stipules. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Stem with stipules | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Stem with stipules. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Leaves | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Dorsal side of leaves. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Leaves | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Ventral side of leaves. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Seedlings | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Seedlings. Botanical Garden, Berlin, Germany. May 2018. | ©Krzysztof Ziarnek (Kenraiz)/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Leaflet | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Leaflet - dorsal view. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Leaflet | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Leaflet - ventral view. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Stem with stipule | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Stem with stipule. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Infructescence | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Infructescence. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Cross-section of stem | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Cross-section of stem. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 | |
| Seeds | Galega officinalis (goatsrue); Seeds. Senningbach, Austria. August 2018. | ©Stefan Lefnaer/via Wikimedia Commons - CC BY-SA 4.0 |
Datasheet
Galega officinalis (goatsrue)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Description
- Plant Type
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- Habitat List
- Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
- Natural enemies
- Pathway Causes
- Pathway Vectors
- Plant Trade
- Impact Summary
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses List
- Bibliography
- References
- Principal Source
- Distribution Maps
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Top of pageIdentity
Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Galega officinalis L.
Preferred Common Name
- goatsrue
Other Scientific Names
- Galega bicolor Boiss. & Hausskn. ex Regel
- Galega patula Steven
International Common Names
- English: common goatsrue; galega; professorweed; professor-weed
- Spanish: alfalfa galega
- French: galega officinal
Local Common Names
- Germany: Echte Geissraute
- Italy: capraggine
- Netherlands: geiteklaver
EPPO code
- GAGOF (Galega officinalis)
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of pageGalega officinalis forms dense thickets and competes with and reduces yields of forage plants. Goatsrue produces a toxic alkaloid, galegin, which lowers blood pressure and paralyzes the central nervous system.
G. officinalis was added to the US Federal Noxious Weed list in 1983 and is regulated in 12 US states (USDA-NRCS, 2011).
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Phylum: Spermatophyta
- Subphylum: Angiospermae
- Class: Dicotyledonae
- Order: Fabales
- Family: Fabaceae
- Genus: Galega
- Species: Galega officinalis
Description
Top of pageG. officinalis is a shrubby, herbaceous perennial that can reach 2 meters (6 feet) in height. It is multi-stemmed with alternate pinnately compound leaves. Purple to white pea-like flowers are arranged in terminal or axillary racemes that bloom from June to July. These flowers give way to fruits, which are short pods containing up to 9 seeds.
Distribution
Top of pageG. officinalis is a herbaceous perennial native to the Middle East. In 1891, it was intentionally introduced into the USA for study as a forage crop at Utah State University. When researchers discovered that the plant was unpalatable and toxic to cattle and horses, the research ended but the experimental stands of the plant were not destroyed. Over time, the plant spread following Utah’s valley irrigation systems. It now occupies areas of Washington, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, in addition to Utah. Goatsrue grows best in wet disturbed areas, including streambanks, low pastures, and ditches.
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 12 May 2022| Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Africa |
|||||||
| Algeria | Present | Native | |||||
| Morocco | Present | Native | |||||
Asia |
|||||||
| Pakistan | Present | Native | |||||
| Turkey | Present, Localized | Native | |||||
Europe |
|||||||
| Albania | Present | Native | |||||
| Austria | Present | Native | |||||
| Belgium | Present | Introduced | 1854 | ||||
| Bulgaria | Present | Native | |||||
| Czechia | Present | Introduced | 1819 | ||||
| Czechoslovakia | Present | Native | |||||
| Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | Present | Native | |||||
| France | Present | Native | |||||
| -Corsica | Present | Introduced | 1952 | ||||
| Germany | Present | Native | |||||
| Greece | Present | Native | |||||
| Hungary | Present | Native | |||||
| Italy | Present | Native | |||||
| Norway | Present | Introduced | 1905 | ||||
| Poland | Present | Native | |||||
| Romania | Present | Native | |||||
| Russia | Present, Localized | ||||||
| Slovakia | Present | Introduced | 1791 | ||||
| Spain | Present | Native | |||||
| Sweden | Present | Introduced | 1892 | ||||
| United Kingdom | Present | Introduced | 1640 | ||||
North America |
|||||||
| Canada | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
| -Ontario | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| United States | Present, Widespread | ||||||
| -Colorado | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| -Connecticut | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| -Maine | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| -Maryland | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| -Massachusetts | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| -Nebraska | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| -New York | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| -Pennsylvania | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| -Utah | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
| -Washington | Present | Introduced | Invasive | ||||
Oceania |
|||||||
| New Zealand | Present, Localized | ||||||
South America |
|||||||
| Argentina | Present, Localized | ||||||
Habitat List
Top of page| Category | Sub-Category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial | Managed | Disturbed areas | Principal habitat | |
| Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Principal habitat | |
| Terrestrial | Natural / Semi-natural | Riverbanks | Principal habitat | |
| Freshwater | Irrigation channels | Principal habitat |
Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
Top of page| Plant name | Family | Context | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyphagous (polyphagous) | Main |
Natural enemies
Top of page| Natural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uromyces galegae | Pathogen |
Pathway Vectors
Top of page| Vector | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plants or parts of plants | Yes | |||
| Water | Yes |
Plant Trade
Top of page| Plant parts liable to carry the pest in trade/transport | Pest stages | Borne internally | Borne externally | Visibility of pest or symptoms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| True seeds (inc. grain) | weeds/seeds | Yes |
Impact Summary
Top of page| Category | Impact |
|---|---|
| Biodiversity (generally) | Negative |
| Economic/livelihood | Negative |
Risk and Impact Factors
Top of page
Invasiveness
- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Monoculture formation
- Negatively impacts agriculture
- Negatively impacts human health
- Negatively impacts animal health
- Negatively impacts livelihoods
- Threat to/ loss of native species
- Competition - monopolizing resources
- Poisoning
Uses List
Top of pageAnimal feed, fodder, forage
- Forage
- Invertebrate food
Environmental
- Ornamental
General
- Ornamental
Human food and beverage
- Honey/honey flora
Materials
- Poisonous to mammals
Medicinal, pharmaceutical
- Traditional/folklore
Bibliography
Top of pageCenter for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. “Goatsrue”. Accessed 17 June 2009. http://www.invasive.org/species/subject.cfm?sub=4535
References
Top of pageEPPO, 2014. PQR database. Paris, France: European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. http://www.eppo.int/DATABASES/pqr/pqr.htm
Distribution References
CABI Data Mining, Undated. CAB Abstracts Data Mining.,
CABI, Undated. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated a. CABI Compendium: Status as determined by CABI editor. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Distribution Maps
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