| Actual Image
Ruta chalepensis (12)
Ishi
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 162 W: 0 N: 971]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif) (3714) | This is to complement Hervé’s posting of a few days ago (www.treknature.com/gallery/photo147272.htm). This is a macro of an early bloom of the shrub; the flower is about 10 mm in diameter. It seems that the flowers of our fringed rue (Ruta chalepensis) are more bright-yellow than the ones from France.
Ruta gave its name to the Rutaceae, a family that includes the citrus trees. The leaves, which are very aromatic (many people dislike the smell) are used in our area (among other things) as a spice for black olives. The leaves are food to the caterpillars of the swallow-tail butterfly. |
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