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filipendule rouge, prairie dropwort, queen-of-the-prairie

common dropwort, dropwort, filipendule vulgaire

Habit Plants strongly rhizomatous, forming irregular patches, 12–25 dm. Plants cespitose, 5–10 dm.
Rhizomes

horizontal, thin, 2.5–3 mm wide, internodes 3–7 cm;

root tubers absent.

horizontal to nearly vertical, relatively stout, 5–10 mm wide, internodes 0.5–1 cm;

root tubers round to elongate, 1–3 cm.

Stems

glabrous.

glabrous.

Leaves

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 3–6(–7), persistent to flowering;

stipules ovate, 0.8–1.2 cm, apiculate, base auriculate;

lateral leaflets in 7–17 pairs, close, lanceolate, to 3 cm, margins deeply dentate;

terminal leaflets lanceolate, to 3 cm, 3-lobed, lobes lanceolate, margins deeply dentate, apex acute, abaxial surface glabrous or hairy on nerves, hairs appressed, straight to curly.

Inflorescences

100+-flowered;

branches and pedicels glabrous.

usually less than 100-flowered;

branches and pedicels glabrous.

Flowers

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 concave, becoming convex in fruit;

sepals (5–)6–7(–9), green, spatulate to triangular, 2–3 mm, margins without midrib, glabrous;

petals (5–)6–7(–9), white to cream, obovate, 5–8 mm, clawed, base narrow, margins entire;

stamens white, about equal to petals.

Achenes

3–7, flattened, oblanceolate, straight, 8–14 mm, glabrous;

stipes 0.5–1.5 mm;

styles 1–2 mm.

10–18, slightly flattened, ovate, straight, 3–5 mm, densely appressed-hairy throughout, hairs straight, short;

sessile (attached to enlarged globose torus);

styles 0.5–1 mm.

2n

= 14, 14+2B (Europe, w Asia).

Filipendula rubra

Filipendula vulgaris

Phenology Flowering summer (Jun–Jul). Flowering summer (Jun–Jul).
Habitat Moist meadows and bogs, roadsides, ditches, often persistent in abandoned gardens Abandoned gardens and cemeteries, well-drained short grasslands
Elevation 0–1000 m (0–3300 ft) 0–1000 m (0–3300 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
CT; IA; IL; IN; MA; MD; ME; MI; MO; MS; NC; NH; NJ; NY; OH; PA; VA; VT; WI; WV; NB; NS; ON; QC
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
from FNA
CA; CT; MA; ME; NY; VT; NF; NS; ON; Eurasia; n Africa [Introduced in North America]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

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.)

Filipendula vulgaris has been cultivated as an ornamental in North America and probably escapes. The native range stretches from Atlantic Europe to southwestern Siberia (Altai Mountains), and from southern Scandinavia to northern Africa. Despite strong morphologic differences from the other species of Filipendula, it is probably related to F. ulmaria (I. A. Schanzer 1994). Two additional names have been associated with this species: Filipendula hexapetala Gilibert is a rejected name, and F. hexapetala Gilibert ex Maximowicz is illegitimate.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 9, p. 25. FNA vol. 9, p. 27.
Parent taxa Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Ulmarieae > Filipendula Rosaceae > subfam. Rosoideae > tribe Ulmarieae > Filipendula
Sibling taxa
F. occidentalis, F. ulmaria, F. vulgaris
F. occidentalis, F. rubra, F. ulmaria
Synonyms Ulmaria rubra, F. lobata, Spiraea rubra, Thecanisia angustifolia, T. lobata, T. purpurea Spiraea filipendula
Name authority (Hill) B. L. Robinson: Rhodora 8: 204. (1906) Moench: Methodus, 663. (1794)
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