Bushy, herbaceous perennial with short creeping roots , to 0.8 m tall. African rue contains numerous alkaloids and all plant parts are toxic .
Seed coats contain the alkaloid harmine and are especially toxic when ingested.
However, livestock seldom consume plants because of the bitter taste. Toxicity symptoms in guinea pigs include weakness and paralysis of the hindquarters. Dehulled seeds yield edible oil similar to cottonseed oil. Plants have been used medicinally and produce red dye in the Middle East. Introduced from the Mediterranean region and Middle East.