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.

western meadow-rue

meadow rue

Trophy Mountain in July

rue

• 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.