Rue is a woody shrub with yellow flowers that is native to the Balkan Peninsula, and has been used historically as a culinary ingredient, medicine and green dye or paint. Juice from the freshly crushed leaves can be mixed with verdigris (a copper-derived pigment), resulting in a self-adhesive bottle-green paint. A 5th-century Greco-Roman text suggests writing a magical spell using ink made from rue and onion juice mixed with frankincense. However, rue contains phototoxic chemicals and particular care should be taken to avoid contact with the skin.
Next: Rubia tinctorum (Madder)
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