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Smith, R.W.

Thalictrum dasycarpum

Thalictrum dasycarpum Fisch. & Avé-Lall.

Purple Meadow-rue, Tall Meadow-rue, Meadow Rue

Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)

Synonym(s): Thalictrum dasycarpum var. hypoglaucum, Thalictrum hypoglaucum

USDA Symbol: THDA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Thalyctrum dasycarpum is a stout, upright perennial, 2-6 ft. high, with purplish stems branching in the upper portion. The flowers, which occur in loose, delicate, terminal clusters, are creamy-green with petal-like sepals falling as they open. Numerous, colored, thread-like stamens remain, becoming drooping and tangled. The leaves are divided into numerous, three-lobed leaflets.

From the Image Gallery

18 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Breeding System: Flowers Unisexual , Dioecious
Fruit Type: Achene
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Flower: Flowers 1/2 inch

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Green , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , AZ , CO , IA , ID , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MI , MN , MO , MS , MT , ND , NE , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , SD , TN , TX , UT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: Ont. to e. B.C., s. to MD, OH, TX & AZ; rare & local in New England, ID, MT & n.e. WA
Native Habitat: Wet meadows; stream banks; prairies

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
Soil Description: Rich, sandy or calcareous loams. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam Clay Loam Acid-based, Calcareous
Conditions Comments: In addition to its use in naturalized landscapes, tall meadow rue makes an interesting background plant in designed beds.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Perennial garden, Water garden, Bog or pond area, Ground cover
Use Food: In the first century AD, Pliny recomended meadowrue for preventing baldness and restoring hair. Most species produce chemicals called alkaloids, some of which have been used to combat tumours. A few species contain the heart toxin thalictrine. (Kershaw)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Description: Propagate by seed.
Seed Treatment: Cold-moist stratify for 4-6 weeks before planting.
Commercially Avail: yes

Find Seed or Plants

Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC		FACW		FACW	FAC		FACW	FACW	FACW

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR

Bibliography

Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 765 - McMillen's Texas Gardening: Wildflowers (1998) Howard, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Thalictrum dasycarpum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Thalictrum dasycarpum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Thalictrum dasycarpum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-02-28
Research By: TWC Staff

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