Thalictrum dioicum
Thalictrum heliophilum
early meadow-rue, pigamon dioïque, quicksilver-weed
cathedral bluff meadow-rue
yellow to light brown, fibrous, from stout caudex.
fibrous.
erect, 30-80 cm, glabrous or glandular.
14-50 cm, arising singly or in dense clusters of 2-3 from short, horizontal, fibrous-rooted rhizomes.
blade 1-4x-ternately compound;
leaflets reniform or cordate to obovate or orbiculate, apically 3-12-lobed, 10-45 mm wide, lobe margins often crenate, surfaces abaxially glabrous or glandular.
blade ternately compound, cauline blades gradually reduced upward, distalmost 2-ternate;
leaflets broadly obovate, apically 3-toothed, otherwise undivided, 5-8 × 4-5 mm, leathery, surfaces glabrous, glaucous.
terminal and axillary, panicles to corymbs, many flowered.
terminal, panicles, many flowered.
sepals greenish to purple, ovate or obovate to oval, 1.8-4 mm;
filaments yellow to greenish yellow, 3.5-5.5 mm;
anthers 2-4 mm, mucronate to acuminate;
stigma purple.
sepals 4, color unknown, lanceolate to ovate, 2-3 mm;
filaments brownish, 2-3 mm;
anthers 2-3 mm, apiculate;
stigma color unknown.
(3-)7–13, not reflexed, sessile or nearly so;
stipe terete, 0-0.2 mm;
body ovoid to ellipsoid, not laterally compressed, 3.5-5 mm, glabrous, very strongly veined, veins not anastomosing-reticulate;
beak 1.5-3 mm.
4-5(-6), not reflexed, nearly sessile;
stipe 0.1-0.2 mm;
body oblique-obovate, strongly laterally compressed, 4-5 mm, glabrous, glaucous, prominently 3-veined on each side, veins converging near apex, rarely branched or sinuous, not anastomosing-reticulate;
beak ca. 1.5 mm.
Thalictrum dioicum
Thalictrum heliophilum
Glandular plants of Thalictrum dioicum have often been misidentified as T. revolutum despite important differences, especially the leaflets having crenate versus entire lobe margins, respectively. The stamens in both T. dioicum and T. revolutum are pendulous.
Native Americans used roots of Thalictrum dioicum in various preparations to treat diarrhea and vomiting and for heart palpitations (D. E. Moerman 1986).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Of conservation concern.
In a genus of primarily mesophytic plants, Thalictrum heliophilum is notable for its relatively xeric habitat. Known only from Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, northwestern Colorado, it is similar to the widespread T. fendleri; it may be distinguished by its smaller, leathery, glaucous leaflets and fewer achenes.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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