Goat’s rue, Galega
Galega officinalis
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A perennial plant. It grows 90-150 cm high and 90-120 cm wide. It is a bushy plant. The leaves are compound with leaflets arranged along the stalk. There can be 17 narrow leaflets. They are soft green. The flowers are pale mauve-pink. The pods are cylinder shape and are constricted between the seeds. The pods are 20-50 mm long.
There are 6 Galega species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It is frost hardy. It grows in moist, well-drained soil. It can grow in sun or part shade. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level. It suits hardiness zones 4-9. Hobart Botanical Gardens 1
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Albania, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Bulgaria, Chile, Czech, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Lebanon, Macedonia, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Tasmania, Turkey, Türkiye, Uruguay, Yugoslavia
How it is used for food
It has been used as a potherb. The young leaves are cooked and eaten. The plant is a substitute for rennet in making cheese.
Edible parts
Leaves, herb
How it is grown
Plants are grown by seed. They can also be grown by division.
Its other names
Local names
Alfalfa gallega, Keçisedefi, Kecisakali, Navadna jastrebina, Piskavica, Ruda cabruna