Thalictrum thalictroides rue anemone

Synonyms: Anemonella thalictroides
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Rue anemone, also known as windflower is a charming herbaceous perennial native to the woodlands of eastern North America. This small woodland flower is admired for its delicate white or pale pink flowers that bloom in early spring. These flowers, with their petal-like sepals and numerous yellow stamens, are held above a whorl of three-lobed leaves, giving the plant a graceful appearance. The leaflets resemble leaves of meadow rue, which is reflected in the species epithet "thalictroides". As a spring ephemeral, it goes dormant in the summer, with its leaves and stems dying back.

This plant thrives in well-drained, sandy, and humus-rich soils, preferring partial to full shade. It is often found on wooded slopes and ridges, making it a lovely addition to woodland or shaded rock gardens. It tolerates drought, heavy shade, and dry soils. It attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies, enhancing its ecological value.

Contributed by: Cynthia Summers

Habitat & Range

Common in forests and rich woodlands. Prefers partial to full shade and mesic to dry soils rich in organic matter.

Present throughout the state, except at the highest elevations.

Range: From Manitoba and Minnesota in the north to Texas, Florida in the south.

Wetland codes

EMP:	FACU
NCNE:	FACU

Phenology

Flowers late March to June. Blooms for about 3 weeks.

Fruits from May through June.

Characteristics

Inflorescence a whorled cluster of 1 to several flowers

Flowers perfect; 5 to 10 white to pinkish sepals (usually 5), apetalous; 1-1½″ across; numerous yellow-tipped stamens with narrowly club-shaped filaments 4mm long

Leaves leaflets have 3 (or rarely more) shallow, rounded lobes; glabrous, dark green; 1″ wide and 1½″ long; stalked

Basal leaves ternately twice-compound; on long stalks; usually 1 basal leaf per plant; leaflets' stalk abt 1″

Involucral(stem) leaves ternately compound in a whorl at the base of the flowers, subsessile, leaflets stalked; 1 leaf per plant

Stems slender, glabrous, reddish-brown to light green, unbranched; multiple stems from root

Fruit small, spindle-shaped achene; strongly ribbed; ¼″ long; green when young turning brown at maturity

Height 4 to 11 inches

Plant Codes

S-rank: S5 (Secure)
G-rank: G5 (Secure)

Faunal Associations

Bees are the primary pollinators. Seeds are primary dispersed by wind and also by small mammals and bird. Certain compounds in this plant make it unattractive to deers and rabbits.

Comments

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