Galega officinalis (goatsrue)
Datasheet Types: Pest, Invasive species, Host plant
Abstract
This datasheet on Galega officinalis covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Dispersal, Hosts/Species Affected, Diagnosis, Biology & Ecology, Natural Enemies, Impacts, Uses, Further Information.
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
- Englishcommon goatsruegalegaprofessorweedprofessor-weed
- Spanishalfalfa galega
- Frenchgalega officinal
- Local Common Names
- GermanyEchte Geissraute
- Italycapraggine
- Netherlandsgeiteklaver
- EPPO code
- GAGOF (Galega officinalis)
Pictures
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
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
Plant Type
Herbaceous
Perennial
Shrub
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.
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 Map
Distribution Table
Pathway Causes
| Pathway cause | Notes | Long distance | Local | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitchhiker (pathway cause) | Yes | |||
| Research (pathway cause) | Yes |
Pathway Vectors
| Pathway vector | Notes | Long distance | Local | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plants or parts of plants (pathway vector) | Yes | |||
| Water (pathway vector) | Yes |
Plant Trade
| 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 |
Host Animals
| Host animal | Context | Life stages | Production systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ovis aries (sheep) |
Host Plants and Other Plants Affected
| Host | Family | Host status | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polyphagous (polyphagous) | Main |
List of Symptoms/Signs
| Symptom or sign | Life stages | Sign or diagnosis | Disease stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial animals/Digestive Signs/Anorexia, loss or decreased appetite, not nursing, off feed | Sign | ||
| Terrestrial animals/General Signs/Neck swelling, mass cervical region | Sign | ||
| Terrestrial animals/General Signs/Opisthotonus | Sign | ||
| Terrestrial animals/General Signs/Sudden death, found dead | Sign | ||
| Terrestrial animals/General Signs/Trembling, shivering, fasciculations, chilling | Sign | ||
| Terrestrial animals/Nervous Signs/Dullness, depression, lethargy, depressed, lethargic, listless | Sign | ||
| Terrestrial animals/Nervous Signs/Seizures or syncope, convulsions, fits, collapse | Sign | ||
| Terrestrial animals/Nervous Signs/Tremor | Sign | ||
| Terrestrial animals/Respiratory Signs/Dyspnea, difficult, open mouth breathing, grunt, gasping | Sign | ||
| Terrestrial animals/Respiratory Signs/Increased respiratory rate, polypnea, tachypnea, hyperpnea | Sign | ||
| Terrestrial animals/Skin/Integumentary Signs/Skin edema | Sign |
Habitat List
| Category | Sub category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terrestrial | Terrestrial – Managed | Disturbed areas | Principal habitat | |
| Terrestrial | Terrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-natural | Natural grasslands | Principal habitat | |
| Terrestrial | Terrestrial ‑ Natural / Semi-natural | Riverbanks | Principal habitat | |
| Freshwater | Irrigation channels | Principal habitat |
Natural enemies
| Natural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uromyces galegae | Pathogen |
Impact Summary
| Category | Impact |
|---|---|
| Biodiversity (generally) | Negative |
| Economic/livelihood | Negative |
Risk and Impact Factors
Invasiveness
Proved invasive outside its native range
Impact outcomes
Monoculture formation
Negatively impacts agriculture
Negatively impacts human health
Negatively impacts animal health
Negatively impacts livelihoods
Threat to/ loss of native species
Impact mechanisms
Competition - monopolizing resources
Poisoning
Uses List
General > Ornamental
Environmental > Ornamental
Materials > Poisonous to mammals
Medicinal, pharmaceutical > Traditional/folklore
Human food and beverage > Honey/honey flora
Animal feed, fodder, forage > Forage
Animal feed, fodder, forage > Invertebrate food
Links to Websites
| Name | URL | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| GISD/IASPMR: Invasive Alien Species Pathway Management Resource and DAISIE European Invasive Alien Species Gateway | https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m93f6 | Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list. |
| Global register of Introduced and Invasive species (GRIIS) | http://griis.org/ | Data source for updated system data added to species habitat list. |
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/
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © CABI. CABI is a registered EU trademark. This article is published under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
History
Published online: 25 November 2019
Language
English
Authors
Metrics & Citations
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