The Rue Family
What are they?
There are no native members of the rue family (Rutaceae) in the UK and it's a rather difficult family to define easily as its members are very varied. The family consists mostly of woody trees or shrubs but also includes some herbaceous species. Most species occur in the tropics or warm-temperate regions of the world. Most notably, many members of this family have glands on the leaves (and sometimes on the flowers) that produce aromatic oils which give off a strong scent if the leaf is crushed. Most of the species also have highly fragrant flowers, making them popular as garden ornamentals.
Where are they found?
A single species in this family is quite widely grown as a garden plant in the Isles of Scilly. Plants may occasionally be found as garden cast-outs, or where originally planted outside of gardens.
Identification
The single plant here is quite easily recognised by its tubular flowers and tough, rounded leaves.
Tasmanian-fuchsia Correa backhouseana
Introduced from Tasmania as a garden ornamental. Recorded from the Abbey Hill area, Tresco and more recntly from at least two sites on St Mary's. An evergreen shrub to 5m in height. Leaves opposite, rotund, dark green above, paler below and with scattered stellate hairs. Flowers tubular, cream and pink or all cream.
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