Thalictrum venulosum : Veiny Meadow Rue

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Ranunculaceae (Crowfoot/Buttercup Family)

Genera: Thalictrum (Meadow Rue) (Gk. thallo= to grow green; referring to the bright green shoots)

Species: venulosum (Lat. vena= veined; referring to the conspicuous on the lower side of the leaves)

Synonym(s): T. turneri

English Name(s):

Veiny Meadow Rue,

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Plant herbaceous (not woody) with colourless acrid (bitter) juice.
• Stems 20-90cm high.

Leaves:

• Both basal (from base) and cauline (on stem).
• Ternate (3-parted), petioled (stalked) save for those just below the flowers, veiny, pale beneath.
• Leaflets orbicular to cuneate in shape, 0.7-1.4cm long.
• Margins toothed.

Reproductive Parts:

• Inflorescense (flower cluster) paniculate, narrow, dense.
• Peduncles (flower stalks) ascending or various lenghts.
• Flowers imperfect (unisexual) and plants dioecious (male or female).
• Sepals greenish yellow with purplish tips.
• Anther (male parts) 2.0-3.5mm long, filaments thickened above.
• Ovaries superior (above floral parts).

Seed:

• Fruit is an achene.
• Achenes sessile (stalkless), 3-5mm long, oblong-ovoid in shape, with thick ribs and narrow grooves.

Not to Be Confused With:

• Thalictrum alpinum (Alpine Meadow Rue) is a much shorter plant with perfect (bisexual) flowers.
• Thalictrum sparsiflorum (Few-flowered Meadow Rue) also has perfect (bisexual) flowers.

Physiology:

• Haveing imperfect (unisexual flowers) like many species of Thalictrum ensures cross pollenation creating greater genetic diversity.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• plants deciduous from rootstock.
• It flowers from early to mid-July.

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Border of fields and among open shrubs.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

Industrial:

• Leaves and fruits were kept for their pleasant smell and may also have served as an insect repellant when placed among clothing.

Medicinal:

Food: