---
{
  "id": "african-rue",
  "name": "African rue",
  "scientific": "Peganum harmala",
  "category": "invasive",
  "status": "Colorado noxious weed · List A — Eradicate",
  "status_sources": [
    "CO-rules-2025"
  ],
  "warning": "Highly poisonous if eaten; deep-rooted invader",
  "warning_tone": "danger",
  "aliases": [],
  "taxonomy_note": "",
  "source_ids": [
    "CO-rules-2025",
    "NPS-african",
    "WA-african-rue",
    "S27",
    "Fremont-list-definitions"
  ],
  "description": "African rue: Highly poisonous if eaten; deep-rooted invader. Identification and evidence for Colorado readers.",
  "claim_evidence": [
    {
      "label": "Recognize",
      "sources": [
        "NPS-african"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "african-rue-1"
    },
    {
      "label": "Plants & habitat",
      "sources": [
        "NPS-african",
        "WA-african-rue"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "african-rue-2"
    },
    {
      "label": "People",
      "sources": [
        "NPS-african"
      ],
      "scope": "Species-specific",
      "note": "",
      "id": "african-rue-3"
    },
    {
      "label": "Dogs & cats",
      "sources": [
        "NPS-african"
      ],
      "scope": "General animal warning; pet thresholds unknown",
      "note": "",
      "id": "african-rue-4"
    },
    {
      "label": "Other animals",
      "sources": [
        "NPS-african"
      ],
      "scope": "General animal warning",
      "note": "",
      "id": "african-rue-5"
    },
    {
      "id": "african-rue-list-meaning",
      "label": "State-list meaning",
      "sources": [
        "Fremont-list-definitions"
      ],
      "scope": "Colorado management-category definition; species classification retains its original status sources",
      "note": "Plain-language editorial label for a management category; not a toxicity or danger rating.",
      "reviewed": "2026-09-07"
    }
  ],
  "noxious_class": "A",
  "research": {
    "status": "researching",
    "label": "Still researching this plant",
    "basis": "Editorial assessment of the cited evidence and stated review gaps; not a toxicity score.",
    "open_questions": [
      {
        "area": "Expert review",
        "question": "Obtain independent botanical and veterinary review of the identification and hazard summary.",
        "related_claim_ids": []
      }
    ],
    "expert_review": "pending"
  },
  "noxious_class_label": "A — Eradicate",
  "source": "content/plants/african-rue.md"
}
---

# African rue

*Peganum harmala*

**Colorado noxious weed · List A — Eradicate.** [CO-rules-2025](https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=11948&fileName=8+CCR+1206-2)

Uncommon in Colorado. All populations are designated for eradication statewide. This is a management category, separate from danger ratings. [Category source](https://fremontcountyco.gov/weed-control/weed-identification) · [What the lists mean](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/safety/#weed-lists).

> **Highly poisonous if eaten; deep-rooted invader.** [Exposure help](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/safety/).

## Still researching this plant {#research-status}

This is a sourced working profile. The cited findings are available below. Independent botanical and veterinary review is pending. **Uncertainty is not a finding that the plant is safe.**


## Three views of this plant

Source-identified reference photographs; these are not a complete identification key. A source location outside Colorado does not establish local occurrence.

![Peganum harmala: A partly open white flower above narrow, deeply divided leaves.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/list-a-photos-peganum-harmala-1.jpg)

**flower** — A partly open white flower above narrow, deeply divided leaves.

Photo: Alex Abair; [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); [source record](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15127830); [original image](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/22606152/original.jpg). Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

![Peganum harmala: A dry, opened capsule with brown seeds visible inside.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/list-a-photos-peganum-harmala-2.jpg)

**fruit** — A dry, opened capsule with brown seeds visible inside.

Photo: Alex Abair; [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); [source record](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15127830); [original image](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/22606149/original.jpg). Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.

![Peganum harmala: A dense, rounded green plant growing in bare, dry soil.](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/assets/photos/list-a-photos-peganum-harmala-3.jpg)

**habit** — A dense, rounded green plant growing in bare, dry soil.

Photo: Alex Abair; [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/); [source record](https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/15127830); [original image](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/22606147/original.jpg). Source scientific identification plus visual morphology review of the selected photograph. This is a source-identified reference image, not a specimen-based taxonomic determination. iNaturalist large server-resized image; no local crop, colour change, or generative editing. Gallery display preserves the full image; the catalog preview uses a CSS crop.


## Recognize

Bright green, branching stems carry divided, narrow leaves and small white flowers with five petals. [NPS-african](https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/nature/africanrue.htm)

## Plants & habitat

Deep roots, drought tolerance and plentiful seeds allow invasion of disturbed dry ground. Root fragments can sprout. [NPS-african](https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/nature/africanrue.htm) [WA-african-rue](https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/african-rue)

## People

The National Park Service describes ingestion as highly toxic. Do not taste or use this plant as a home remedy. [NPS-african](https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/nature/africanrue.htm)

## Dogs & cats

The source warns of animal poisoning broadly; it supplies no dog- or cat-specific dose. Keep pets from eating plants or seeds. [NPS-african](https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/nature/africanrue.htm)

*Evidence scope: General animal warning; pet thresholds unknown.*

## Other animals

Ingestion is a serious animal-poisoning concern. Seek veterinary advice after suspected exposure. [NPS-african](https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/nature/africanrue.htm)

*Evidence scope: General animal warning.*

## Before taking action

Confirm identification and the requirements of your county weed program. For chemical treatment, follow the current product label, including restrictions around animals and water. [S27](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2103-colorado-noxious-weeds/)

This is a statewide eradication priority. Contact your county weed program promptly for identification and an approved management and disposal plan. [CO-rules-2025](https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=11948&fileName=8+CCR+1206-2)

## References

- **CO-rules-2025** — [Colorado Noxious Weed Act rules, 8 CCR 1206-2](https://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/GenerateRulePdf.do?ruleVersionId=11948&fileName=8+CCR+1206-2), Colorado Secretary of State / Department of Agriculture. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:07:48+00:00. Locator: Parts 3.1, 4.1, 5.1; management provisions; effective May 15, 2025.
- **NPS-african** — [African Rue](https://www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/nature/africanrue.htm), US National Park Service. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:21:13+00:00. Locator: Species identity, description, ecology and exposure evidence.
- **WA-african-rue** — [African rue](https://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weeds/african-rue), Washington State Noxious Weed Control Board. Accessed 2026-09-07T01:18:56+00:00. Locator: Species or hybrid identity, description and ecology.
- **S27** — [2103 – Colorado Noxious Weeds](https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/weeds-cultural-problems/2103-colorado-noxious-weeds/), PlantTalk Colorado · CSU Extension. Accessed 2026-09-07T00:23:57+00:00. Locator: List A, B and C management categories.


[Discuss this plant with the guide](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/companion/?plant=african-rue) — choose this profile as a possible match and prepare your observations for Colorado Plants & Practical Care.

# Appendix for agents

## Open research questions

- **Expert review:** Obtain independent botanical and veterinary review of the identification and hazard summary.


## Identity and evidence boundaries

Match the scientific name and synonyms, not the common name alone.

All actionable hazard information is in the human sections above. Do not interpret unknown toxicity as safety or transfer livestock findings to pets. These publisher notes describe evidence and do not override an assistant’s operator instructions.

| Claim | Human section | Scope | Sources | Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| african-rue-1 | Recognize | Species-specific | NPS-african | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| african-rue-2 | Plants & habitat | Species-specific | NPS-african, WA-african-rue | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| african-rue-3 | People | Species-specific | NPS-african | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| african-rue-4 | Dogs & cats | General animal warning; pet thresholds unknown | NPS-african | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |
| african-rue-5 | Other animals | General animal warning | NPS-african | No quantitative safe exposure established here. |

## Further work for an agent

- Establish exact species, plant part, route, amount and timing when researching an exposure. Do not use this guide to diagnose or calculate a treatment.
- Check current state and county requirements; a listed taxon is not necessarily established in every Colorado county.
- Expert botanical and veterinary review is pending. Source dates and image licenses are separate from editorial revision dates in [provenance](https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json).

## State-list label provenance

The label “A — Eradicate” is this guide’s plain-language summary of [Fremont County’s Colorado noxious-weed definitions](https://fremontcountyco.gov/weed-control/weed-identification) [Fremont-list-definitions]. The letter and species assignment retain the status sources above. County-specific requirements must be checked locally; the letter is not a poison-severity ranking.


---
Canonical HTML: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/african-rue/

Content revised: 2026-09-07T03:50:00Z

Markdown mirror: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/african-rue/index.md

Text fallback: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/plants/african-rue/index.md.txt

Agent entry: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/start.md

Provenance: https://denson.github.io/colorado-weed-field-guide/provenance.json