Meadow rue (Thalictrum occidentale) is a perennial which we spot in open forests, meadows, and wet slopes at middle elevations in our area.
- Meadow rue grows from fibrous rhizomes.
- The stems grow to 40 to 100 cm tall.
- The plant has a purplish color when emerging.
- Smooth greenish-purplish alternate leaves on short stems grow on the taller stems.
- The leaves are divided into segments each with 3 rounded lobes.
- The flowers are hard to see with no petals and greenish-white sepals.
- Male flowers have purplish hanging stamens.
- Female flowers are found on different plants with their immature fruits and purplish styles.
- All photos taken by the author. Click an image for a lightbox view.
- Clusters of pointed seeds (achenes) form later in the season.
- Meadow rue is found in deciduous and coniferous forests at mid-elevation damp openings in our area.
- Some meadow rue species are poisonous.
- Meadow rues are quite variable.
- Meadow rues are dioecius (both male and female flowers) and is mainly pollinated by the wind.
- We encounter abundant meadow rue in the higher damp forest openings on our way to the subalpine zones when we hike in the mountains.