early meadow-rue
Thalictrum dioicum
This species is dioecious, meaning individual plants are strictly male or female; the male flowers feature prominent dangling stamens that resemble tiny chandeliers.
- Scientific name
- Thalictrum dioicum
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Ranunculales › Ranunculaceae › Thalictrum
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Moist deciduous woodlands, rocky slopes, and rich forest ravines
- Diet
- Autotrophic (Photosynthesis)
- Range
- Eastern North America, Great Lakes Region, Appalachian Mountains
- Size
- 30 to 80 cm tall
- Lifespan
- Perennial, typically living 5 to 10+ years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss, invasive understory plants, and excessive deer browsing.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch, though like many buttercups, it contains mild toxins that can cause stomach upset if ingested. Admire its delicate leaves and dangling flowers without picking them. Keep pets from consuming the foliage.
Thalictrum dioicum , the early meadow-rue or quicksilver-weed , is a species of herbaceous plants in the family Ranunculaceae. Plants are typically upright growing woodland natives from Colorado Rocky Mountain forests to central and eastern North America including parts of south eastern Canada. This species has dioecious plants, with male and female flowers on separate plants blooming in early to mid spring.
Photo: Ryan Hodnett, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
Plain-text version: /species/85d0a296-7bfd-48e8-9467-aa4a1f77248f.md