Early Meadow Rue

Thalictrum dioicum

Ranunculaceae

Growth Habit

Herbaceous

Propagation

cold/moist stratification

Wildlife Value

The caterpillars of the Canadian Owlet (Calyptra canadensis), Meadow-Rue Borer (Papaipema unimoda), Straight-Lined Looper (Pseudeva purpurigera) and White Striped Black (Trichodezia albovitatta) rely upon Meadow Rue species as a host plant.

White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) browse on the foliage of Early Meadow Rue sparingly. Nongame birds and small mammals may consume the seeds.

Poisonous

Yes

Location

Edwards Lake Cliffs Preserve, Fall Creek Gorge, Purvis Road Wetlands Natural Area, Ringwood Ponds, Steep Hollow Creek, Mundy Wildflower Garden

Cultivation

p sun-shade; moist in spring

Description

Roots yellow to light brown, fibrous, from stout caudex. Stems erect, 30-80cm, glabrous or glandular. Leaves basal and cauline, petiolate. Leaf blade 1-4—-ternately compound; leaflets reniform or cordate to obovate or orbiculate, apically 3-12-lobed, 10-45mm wide, lobe margins often crenate, surfaces abaxially glabrous or glandular. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, panicles to corymbs, many flowered. Flowers: sepals greenish to purple, ovate or obovate to oval, 1.8-4mm; filaments yellow to greenish yellow, 3.5-5.5 mm; anthers 2-4mm, mucronate to acuminate; stigma purple. Achenes (3-)7--13, not reflexed, sessile or nearly so; stipe terete, 0-0.2mm; body ovoid to ellipsoid, not laterally compressed, 3.5-5mm, glabrous, very strongly veined, veins not anastomosing-reticulate; beak 1.5-3mm.

Source of plant

Prairie Moon Nursery

USDA Hardiness Zone

3