Goatsrue

[John McNeill]

_Galega officinalis_ is recorded by Boivin (Enumeration des plantes du
Canada, Provancheria 6: 389. 1968/9 - the relevant page, reprinted with
unchanged pagination from Natualiste Canadien 93. Nov. 1966) from
Toronto, Ontario.

Documentation for this record, which may be very old, will be housed in
the Agriculture Canada Herbarium in Ottawa (DAO) either by a specimen or
a photograph of a specimen.  Boivin was very critical of records of
introduced species, and, although there need not have been evidence of
establishment, Boivin would have been pretty certain that the specimen
was not from a garden plant or one that was otherwise being cultivated.


I have not looked in our herbarium (TRT) - it is a kilometre down the road - but
I have no knowledge of survival of the species in this area.

John McNeill

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      John McNeill, Director Emeritus, Royal Ontario Museum,
      100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2C6, Canada.
      Telephone and fax number:  416-586-5744
      e-mail: johnm at rom.on.ca
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______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Goatsrue
Author:  "Timothy A. Block" <block at POBOX.UPENN.EDU> at Internet
Date:    28-01-98 08:58


We have a small infestation of the U.S. federal noxious weed Galega
officinalis (Leguminosae), common name goatsrue, here at the Morris
Arboretum in Philadelphia.  Until very recently, this plant was known to
USDA/APHIS in the U.S. only from several sites in Cache County, Utah where
large investments in time and money have gone toward attempted
erradication.  It came as quite a shock to the folks at USDA that G.
officinalis had become naturalized in Pennsylvania.  This native of the
Middle East is toxic to livestock, hence the noxious weed designation.

We are also aware that, in spite of the plant's status as a noxious weed,
G. officinalis seed is available in the herbal medicine trade (several seed
sources were found on the web).

This brings me to my question for my fellow North American plant hunters.
Are any of you aware of naturalized occurrences of Galega officinalis
anywhere in the U.S. other than in Utah?  If so, any information on
location, habitat, numbers of individuals, whether specimens were
collected, etc. would be valuable.

Thanks for your help.

Timothy A. Block, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania Flora Project
Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania
9414 Meadowbrook Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
215-247-5777 x130