Purple Meadow Rue

(Thalictrum dasycarpum)

Purple Meadow Rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum Fisch. and Lall.)

Identification: Flowers whitish, usually tinged with purple or brown. Stems purple with a white, waxy bloom. Leaves compound with 3 to 5 leaflets. Leaflets usually with three apical points and finely hairy below. A large species 2 to 6 feet in height.

Distribution: Throughout most of the North America, but apparently absent from the Mid-Atlantic states, New England, and the California region.

Habitat: Swamps and wet thickets.

Flowering period: May to July.

Similar Species: Purple Meadow Rue is similar to Early Meadow Rue. Purple Meadow Rue is a larger species (2 to 6 rather than 1 to 2 feet in height). In addition Purple Meadow Rue has a later flowering period (May to July rather than April to May) and the leaflets usually have three rather an indeterminate number of apical points.