Galega

{{Short description|Genus of leguminous plants}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Galega orientalis Rehuvuohenherne C IMG 4803.JPG | image_caption = ''G. orientalis'', University of Helsinki Botanical Garden | taxon = Galega | authority = Tourn. ex L. (1753) | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = 8; see text | subdivision_ref = <ref name = powo>[https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:328382-2 ''Galega'' Tourn. ex L.] ''Plants of the World Online''. Retrieved 25 August 2023</ref> | synonyms = * ''Accorombona'' <small>Endl. (1841)</small> * ''Callotropis'' <small>G.Don (1832)</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref>{{cite book | editor = Hanelt P.| year = 2001 | title = Mansfeld's Encyclopedia of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Except Ornamentals | publisher = Springer-Verlag | location = Berlin | edition = 1 | pages = 799 | isbn = 3-540-41017-1}}</ref> }}

'''''Galega''''', '''goat's rue''', is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae, native to central and southern Europe, western Asia and tropical east Africa. They are tall, bushy, herbaceous perennials with erect racemes of pea-like flowers in shades of white, pink, blue or mauve. Their preferred habitats are sunny damp meadows or slopes.<ref name=RHSAZ>{{cite book|title=RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants|year=2008|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=United Kingdom|isbn=978-1405332965|pages=1136}}</ref>

The species ''Galega officinalis'' and ''Galega orientalis'' are familiar in cultivation. Numerous cultivars and garden hybrids have also been produced, of which ''G.'' × ''hartlandii'' 'Lady Wilson' (bicoloured blue and white)<ref>[https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/134974/Galega-x-hartlandii-Lady-Wilson/Details ''Galega'' × ''hartlandii'' 'Lady Wilson' AGM.] Royal Horticultural Society.</ref> and the white-flowered ''G.'' × ''hartlandii'' 'Alba'<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/60332/i-Galega-i-×-i-hartlandii-i-Alba/Details | title = RHS Plantfinder - ''Galega'' × ''hartlandii'' 'Alba' | access-date = 27 February 2018}}</ref> have both gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/pdfs/agm-lists/agm-ornamentals.pdf | title = AGM Plants - Ornamental | date = July 2017 | page = 39 | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date = 27 February 2018}}</ref>

There are 6<ref name=gonz>González‐Andrés, F., et al. (2004). [http://www3.unileon.es/personal/wwdiafga/SCI/NZJAR_47_233_245.pdf Management of ''Galega officinalis'' L. and preliminary results on its potential for milk production improvement in sheep.]{{Dead link|date=December 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research'' 47(2) 233-45.</ref> to 8<ref name = powo/><ref name=bale>Balezentiene, L. Introduction and agro economical value of ''Galega orientalis'' Lam. 3rd International Symposium on Weeds and Invasive Plants. Ancona, Switzerland. October 2–7, 2011.</ref> species in the genus.

Eight species are accepted:<ref name = powo/> *''Galega africana'' {{small|Mill.}} *''Galega assyriaca'' {{small|Mouterde}} *''Galega battiscombei'' {{small|(Baker f.) J.B.Gillett}} *''Galega cirujanoi'' {{small|Garcia Mur. & Talavera}} *''Galega lindblomii'' {{small|(Harms) J.B.Gillett}} *''Galega officinalis'' {{small|L.}} - goat's rue, professor-weed *''Galega orientalis'' {{small|Lam.}} - fodder galega *''Galega somalensis'' {{small|(Taub. ex Harms) J.B.Gillett}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:Galegeae Category:Fabaceae genera Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus