44 RUTA GRAYEOLENS 



nectariferous pore ; ovary large, 4- (or 5-) lobed, the lobes (carpels) 

 separate above, strongly dotted with sunk glands, 4-celled, ovules 

 numerous on axile placentas ; styles coming off from the inner 

 side of the carpels, combined into a single body tapering to the 

 apical stigma. Fruit dry, hard, roundish, 4- or 5-lobed at top, 

 greyish-brown, rough, each carpel dehiscing from above ventrally 

 and also for some way down the dorsal suture. Seeds ovoid, 

 rounded on the back, flattish in front, angular, testa blackish, 

 rough ; embryo slightly curved from base to apex, surrounded by 

 scanty fleshy endosperm. 



The central terminal flowers of the corymbs are usually 

 5-merous, the others generally 4-merous. 



Habitat. The common Rue grows in waste stony ground 

 throughout the south of Europe, extending from Spain and 

 Portugal to Greece and the Crimea. It also occurs in the 

 Canaries, and is cultivated in gardens in India and other 

 countries. In this country it is very hardy and one of our oldest 

 garden plants, usually continuing green through the winter, and 

 the empty dry capsules remaining on the withered flower- stalks 

 through the next flowering season. 



Boiss., Fl. Orient., i, p. 921 ; Hook, f ., PI. India, i, p. 485 ; Lindl., 

 PI. Med., p. 210. 



Official Parts and Names. OLEUM RUT^E ; the oil distilled from 

 the fresh herb (B. P.). The herb (Buta) (I. P.). RUTA; the 

 leaves (U. S. P.). 



1. RUTA. The fresh herb has a very strong disagreeable odour, 

 especially when rubbed ; and a bitter, acrid, nauseous taste. 

 When dried its odour is similar, but less powerful, and it has a 

 greyish-green colour. 



The principal constituents of Rue are the volatile oil (see 

 Oleum Ruta], on which its properties essentially depend, and a 

 bitter extractive matter which is soluble in water, but insoluble in 

 alcohol and ether. 



2. OLEUM RUT^:. By distillation with water the fresh herb 

 yields a small quantity of volatile oil, the produce being largest 



