Ruta graveolens

Ruta graveolens, commonly known as rue, common rue or herb-of-grace, is a species of Ruta grown as an ornamental plant and as an herb. It is native to the Balkan Peninsula. It is now grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for its bluish leaves, and sometimes for its tolerance of hot and dry soil conditions. It is also cultivated as a medicinal herb, as a condiment, and to a lesser extent as an insect repellent.

Uses

Traditional use

The Tacuinum Sanitatis, a medieval handbook on wellness, lists these properties of rue:

The refined oil of rue is an emmenagogue and was cited by the Roman historian Pliny the Elder and the gynecologist Soranus as a potent abortifacient (inducing abortion).

Rue, Switzerland

Rue is a municipality in the district of Glâne in the canton of Fribourg in Switzerland. On 1 January 1993 the former municipality of Blessens merged into Rue, followed by Promasens and Gillarens in 2001.

History

Rue is first mentioned in 1152 as Rota. The municipality was formerly known by its German name Rüw, however, that name is no longer used.

Geography

Rue has an area, as of 2009, of 11.2 square kilometers (4.3 sq mi). Of this area, 8.07 km² (3.12 sq mi) or 72.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while 2.11 km² (0.81 sq mi) or 18.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.98 km² (0.38 sq mi) or 8.7% is settled (buildings or roads), 0.07 km² (17 acres) or 0.6% is either rivers or lakes and 0.01 km² (2.5 acres) or 0.1% is unproductive land. Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 4.3% and transportation infrastructure made up 3.8%. Out of the forested land, 15.3% of the total land area is heavily forested and 3.5% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 36.8% is used for growing crops and 33.8% is pastures, while 1.3% is used for orchards or vine crops. All the water in the municipality is flowing water.

The Sprig of Thyme

Sprig of Thyme, The Seeds of Love, Maiden’s Lament, Garners Gay, Let No Man Steal Your Thyme or Rue (Roud #3) is a traditional British and Irish folk Ballad that uses fairly obvious botanical and other symbolism to warn young people of the dangers in taking false lovers. The song was first documented in 1689 and the many variants go by a large number of titles.

Synopsis

In one version of Maiden’s Lament, the narrator tells her audience to keep their gardens fair and not to let anyone steal their thyme. Once, she had a sprig of thyme but a gardener’s son came with a red rose, a blue violet and some bitter rue. He stole the thyme and left only rue, with its "running root", growing in its place. Her parents were angry but she will cut the head off the rose and plant a willow for all to see. There is many a "dark and cloudy morn brings forth a pleasant day" and "there are fine boats sailing here".

In a version of Let No Man Steal Your Thyme, she wishes she were in her lover’s arms but she tells false men not to give her cause to complain about the grass underfoot being "trodden down" – in time, it will rise again.