Galega officinalis
(goatsrue)

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Identity

Preferred 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

Galega 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

• Domain: Eukaryota
•     Kingdom: Plantae
•         Phylum: Spermatophyta
•             Subphylum: Angiospermae
•                 Class: Dicotyledonae
•                     Order: Fabales
•                         Family: Fabaceae
•                             Genus: Galega
•                                 Species: Galega officinalis

Description

G. 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.

Plant Type

Distribution

G. 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

The 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.

Habitat List

Host Plants and Other Plants Affected

Natural enemies

Pathway Causes

Pathway Vectors

Plant Trade

Impact Summary

Risk and Impact Factors

• 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

Animal 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

Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. “Goatsrue”. Accessed 17 June 2009. http://www.invasive.org/species/subject.cfm?sub=4535

References

EPPO, 2014. PQR database. Paris, France: European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization. http://www.eppo.int/DATABASES/pqr/pqr.htm

USDA-ARS, 2011. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Online Database. Beltsville, Maryland, USA: National Germplasm Resources Laboratory. https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomysearch.aspx

USDA-NRCS, 2011. The PLANTS Database. Baton Rouge, USA: National Plant Data Center. http://plants.usda.gov/

Principal Source

US Federal Noxious Weed List (draft fact sheet 2011)

Distribution Maps