A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Ruta graveolens
The Common Rue (Ruta graveolens), also known as Herb-of-Grace, is a species of rue grown as a herb. It is native to the Balkan Peninsula, southeastern Europe. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental plant in gardens, especially because of its bluish leaves, and also sometimes for its tolerance of hot and dry soil conditions. It also is cultivated as a medicinal herb, as a condiment, and to a lesser extent as an insect repellent. The caterpillars of the Papilio machaon butterfly species feed on rue, among other kinds of plants.
Spotted on May 27, 2012
Submitted on May 27, 2012
1 Comment
Rue is well known for its symbolic meaning of regret and it has sometimes been called "herb-of-grace" in literary works. 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..."