Ruta graveolens
Upwards of 100 genera and 1,000 or more species comprise the known members of the Rue family in tropical and sub-tropical countries with extensions into temperate regions, in many parts of the world. The family is rich in aromatic qualities, and it yields essential oils, edible fruits, and ornamental or odorous subjects. Mostly woody plants, often good sized trees; lvs. alternate or opposite, commonly with pellucid dots, simple or pinnate, frequently persistent, exstipulate; fls. mostly bisexual but in some cases unisexual; sepals 3-5, often connate, sometimes wanting; petals also 3-5, imbricated or valvate; stamens same number or more often twice the number of petals, rarely 15, inserted at the base of a thick annular disk; ovary single and with 2-5 cells and carpels or sometimes the unicellular pistils distinct and forming a 2-5 pistilled gynoecium; styles usually connate; cells with 1 to many ovules; fr. various, in some genera capsular and dehiscent, in others samara-like, in others fleshy and berry-like and often very large. In Citrus and certain others, the apparently simple lvs. are really 1-foliate as indicated by the joint at the apex of the rachis, the 2 lateral lfts. being absent. (Bailey 604).
Upper Newport Bay species within the family: