Rue (Ruta) is a genus of strongly scented evergreen subshrubs 20-60 cm tall, in the family Rutaceae, native to the Mediterranean region, Macaronesia and southwest Asia. A well-known species is the Common Rue.
The leaves are bipinnate or tripinnate, with feathery appearance, and green to blue-green-gray-green strong. The flowers are yellow, with 4-5 petals, about 1 cm diameter, and borne in cymes. The fruit is a 4-5 lobed capsule, containing many seeds.
It is very bitter. It is used extensively in Middle Eastern cuisine in the past, as well as in many ancient Roman recipes (according to Apicius, and is still used, for example in northern Africa. In Italy rue leaves are sometimes added to grappa to obtain grappa alla Ruta.
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