Filipendula rubra
Filipendula occidentalis
filipendule rouge, prairie dropwort, queen-of-the-prairie
queen-of-the-forest
horizontal, thin, 2.5–3 mm wide, internodes 3–7 cm;
root tubers absent.
horizontal, stout, 10–15 mm wide, internodes 1–4 cm;
root tubers absent.
glabrous.
finely puberulent distally.
basal 1 or 2, deciduous by flowering;
stipules ovate to elliptic, 1–1.5 cm, base auriculate;
lateral leaflets in 1–5 pairs, remote, ovate to elliptic, to 9 cm, palmately 2–3-lobed, lobes lanceolate, margins serrate or doubly serrate;
terminal leaflets round, 10–15 cm diam., palmately 7–9-lobed, lobes oblanceolate to lanceolate, margins doubly serrate, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces hairy at least on veins, hairs appressed, straight, short, 0.5 mm, or adaxial glabrous.
basal 1 or 2, deciduous by flowering;
stipules round, 1–1.5 cm diam., base not auriculate;
lateral leaflets in 1–3 pairs or lacking, remote, ovate to elliptic, to 1 cm, margins serrate;
terminal leaflets round, 6–16 cm diam., palmately 5–7-lobed, lobes ovate to oblong-lanceolate, margins doubly serrate, apex acute to acuminate, surfaces short-appressed hairy at least on veins.
100+-flowered;
branches and pedicels glabrous.
100+-flowered;
branches and pedicels densely short-appressed hairy, hairs straight.
hypanthium slightly concave;
sepals (4–)5(–6), purplish, spatulate to triangular, 1–3 mm, margins without midrib, abaxially glabrous, adaxially finely appressed-hairy or glabrous;
petals (4–)5(–6), pink to purple, orbiculate, 2.5–7 mm, claws distinct, short, base narrow, margins unevenly toothed;
stamens pink to purplish, about equal to or longer than petals.
hypanthium nearly flat, saucer-shaped;
sepals (4–)5(–6), green, narrowly triangular, 4–6 mm, margins often serrate, usually with midrib, abaxially puberulent, adaxially glabrous;
petals (4–)5(–6), white, in buds sometimes marginally pink, oblanceolate, 10–15 mm, not clawed, base broad, margins entire;
stamens white, about equal to petals.
3–7, flattened, oblanceolate, straight, 8–14 mm, glabrous;
stipes 0.5–1.5 mm;
styles 1–2 mm.
7–12, flattened, lanceolate, straight, 6–7.5 mm, sutures densely ciliate, faces sparsely hairy;
stipes 1–2 mm;
styles 1.5–2 mm.
Filipendula rubra
Filipendula occidentalis
Filipendula rubra is widely planted as an ornamental and is known only in cultivation or as an escape in the northern part of the listed range (eastern Canada, Maine, New York) as well as in West Virginia. The species is related to the east Asian F. angustiloba (Turczaninow) Maximowicz and F. palmata (Pallas) Maximowicz; it was used by Native Americans for heart troubles and love potions (D. E. Moerman 1998). The plant probably contains salicylic acid (natural precursor to aspirin), which has anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. It has been used to treat gout, influenza, rheumatism, arthritis, fever, and kidney and bladder problems. The root is rich in tannins; it is used as an astringent in the treatment of, for example, diarrhea, dysentery, and bleeding (S. Foster and J. A. Duke 1990).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
Filipendula occidentalis is known only from the valleys of several small rivers in the coast ranges of northwestern Oregon and southwestern Washington. The species is threatened by logging and associated forest-management activities. The species is most probably related to F. camtschatica (Pallas) Maximowicz from the Pacific coast of Asia.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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