214 Species in Genus Thalictrum

Thalictrum: A Meadow Rue Runs Through It

My name is Ferb Vu, and I’ve always been drawn to the subtle beauty of wildflowers. There’s a certain charm to their unassuming nature, their quiet strength as they thrive in diverse environments. Among my favorites is the genus Thalictrum, commonly known as meadow rue. These delicate perennials, with their airy blooms and feathery foliage, bring a touch of understated elegance to any garden.

A Diverse Genus

Thalictrum belongs to the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, and encompasses a wide array of species, somewhere 214. They’re primarily found in temperate regions across the globe, gracing meadows, woodlands, and stream banks with their presence. What unites them is their distinctive appearance: finely divided leaves, often resembling maidenhair ferns, and clouds of fluffy flowers in shades of white, pink, purple, and yellow.

  1. Thalictrum acaule Jacquem. ex Cambess.
  2. Thalictrum actaeifolium Siebold & Zucc.
  3. Thalictrum acutifolium (Hand.-Mazz.) B.Boivin
  4. Thalictrum acutilobum DC.
  5. Thalictrum alpinum L.
  6. Thalictrum amphibolum Greene
  7. Thalictrum angustialatum (W.T.Wang) Y.P.Zeng, Q.Yuan & Q.E.Yang
  8. Thalictrum appendiculatum C.A.Mey.
  9. Thalictrum aquilegiifolium L.
  10. Thalictrum arkansanum B.Boivin
  11. Thalictrum arsenei B.Boivin
  12. Thalictrum atriplex Finet & Gagnep.
  13. Thalictrum baicalense Turcz. ex Regel
  14. Thalictrum bouffordii Y.P.Zeng, Q.Yuan & Q.E.Yang
  15. Thalictrum brachyandrum W.T.Wang
  16. Thalictrum brevisericeum W.T.Wang & S.H.Wang
  17. Thalictrum bykovii Kotukhov
  18. Thalictrum calabricum Spreng.
  19. Thalictrum calcicola T.Shimizu
  20. Thalictrum changii Y.P.Zeng, Q.Yuan & Q.E.Yang
  21. Thalictrum chelidonii DC.
  22. Thalictrum cincinnatum B.Boivin
  23. Thalictrum cirrhosum H.Lév.
  24. Thalictrum clavatum DC.
  25. Thalictrum confine Fernald
  26. Thalictrum conzattii B.Boivin
  27. Thalictrum cooleyi H.E.Ahles
  28. Thalictrum coreanum H.Lév.
  29. Thalictrum coriaceum (Britton) Small
  30. Thalictrum cuernavacanum Rose
  31. Thalictrum cultratum Wall.
  32. Thalictrum dalzellii Hook.
  33. Thalictrum dasycarpum Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall.
  34. Thalictrum deamii B.Boivin
  35. Thalictrum debile Buckley
  36. Thalictrum decipiens B.Boivin
  37. Thalictrum delavayi Franch.
  38. Thalictrum diffusiflorum C.Marquand & Airy Shaw
  39. Thalictrum dingjieense W.T.Wang
  40. Thalictrum dioicum L.
  41. Thalictrum domingense Urb.
  42. Thalictrum elegans Wall. ex Royle
  43. Thalictrum faberi Ulbr.
  44. Thalictrum fargesii Franch. ex Finet & Gagnep.
  45. Thalictrum fendleri Engelm. ex A.Gray
  46. Thalictrum filamentosum Maxim.
  47. Thalictrum fimbriatum Qureshi & Chaudhri
  48. Thalictrum finetii B.Boivin
  49. Thalictrum flavum L.
  50. Thalictrum foeniculaceum Bunge
  51. Thalictrum foetidum L.
  52. Thalictrum foliolosum DC.
  53. Thalictrum fortunei S.Moore
  54. Thalictrum galeottii Lecoy.
  55. Thalictrum gibbosum Lecoy.
  56. Thalictrum glandulosissimum (Finet & Gagnep.) W.T.Wang & S.H.Wang
  57. Thalictrum grandidentatum W.T.Wang & S.H.Wang
  58. Thalictrum grandiflorum Maxim.
  59. Thalictrum grandifolium S.Watson
  60. Thalictrum guatemalense C.DC. & Rose
  61. Thalictrum hamatum Maxim.
  62. Thalictrum hazaricum Qureshi & Chaudhri
  63. Thalictrum heliophilum Wilken & DeMott
  64. Thalictrum hengduanshanense Y.P.Zeng, Q.Yuan & Q.E.Yang
  65. Thalictrum henricksonii M.C.Johnst.
  66. Thalictrum hernandezii Tausch
  67. Thalictrum hintonii B.Boivin
  68. Thalictrum honanense W.T.Wang & S.H.Wang
  69. Thalictrum ichangense Lecoy. ex Oliv.
  70. Thalictrum integrilobum Maxim.
  71. Thalictrum isopyroides C.A.Mey.
  72. Thalictrum jaliscanum Rose
  73. Thalictrum javanicum Blume
  74. Thalictrum jiulongense W.T.Wang
  75. Thalictrum johnstonii Standl.
  76. Thalictrum kiusianum Nakai
  77. Thalictrum koikeanum Sera, Hamada & Kadota
  78. Thalictrum kubotae Kadota
  79. Thalictrum kuhistanicum Ovcz. & Kochk.
  80. Thalictrum laeteviride B.Boivin
  81. Thalictrum lanatum Lecoy.
  82. Thalictrum lancangense Y.Y.Qian
  83. Thalictrum lankesteri Standl.
  84. Thalictrum lecoyeri Franch.
  85. Thalictrum leuconotum Franch.
  86. Thalictrum leve (Franch.) W.T.Wang
  87. Thalictrum longistipitatum Y.P.Zeng, Q.Yuan & Q.E.Yang
  88. Thalictrum longistylum DC.
  89. Thalictrum lucidum L.
  90. Thalictrum macrocarpum Gren.
  91. Thalictrum macrostylum Small & A.Heller
  92. Thalictrum madrense Rose
  93. Thalictrum maritimum Dufour
  94. Thalictrum × medium Jacq.
  95. Thalictrum megalostigma (B.Boivin) W.T.Wang
  96. Thalictrum microgynum Lecoy. ex Oliv.
  97. Thalictrum microspermum Ohwi
  98. Thalictrum minshanicum Y.P.Zeng, Q.Yuan & Q.E.Yang
  99. Thalictrum minus L.
  100. Thalictrum mirabile Small
  101. Thalictrum morisonii C.C.Gmel.
  102. Thalictrum myriophyllum Ohwi
  103. Thalictrum nainitalense Harsh Singh, Alka Srivast. & T.Husain
  104. Thalictrum nakamurae Koidz.
  105. Thalictrum nanhuaense Y.P.Zeng, Q.Yuan & Q.E.Yang
  106. Thalictrum nelsonii B.Boivin
  107. Thalictrum nepalense W.T.Wang
  108. Thalictrum neurocarpum Royle
  109. Thalictrum obovatum Blatt.
  110. Thalictrum occidentale A.Gray
  111. Thalictrum oligandrum Maxim.
  112. Thalictrum omeiense W.T.Wang & S.H.Wang
  113. Thalictrum orientale Boiss.
  114. Thalictrum oshimae Masam.
  115. Thalictrum osmorhizoides Nakai
  116. Thalictrum osmundifolium Finet & Gagnep.
  117. Thalictrum pachucense Rose
  118. Thalictrum panamense Standl.
  119. Thalictrum papuanum Ridl.
  120. Thalictrum parvifructum B.Boivin
  121. Thalictrum pedunculatum Edgew.
  122. Thalictrum peltatum DC.
  123. Thalictrum peninsulare (Brandegee) Rose
  124. Thalictrum pennellii B.Boivin
  125. Thalictrum peruvianum Trinidad & A.Cano
  126. Thalictrum petaloideum L.
  127. Thalictrum philippinense C.B.Rob.
  128. Thalictrum pinnatum S.Watson
  129. Thalictrum platycarpum Hook.f. & Thomson
  130. Thalictrum podocarpum Kunth ex DC.
  131. Thalictrum polycarpum (Torr.) S.Watson
  132. Thalictrum praecox Jord.
  133. Thalictrum pringlei S.Watson
  134. Thalictrum przewalskii Maxim.
  135. Thalictrum pseudoichangense Q.E.Yang & G.H.Zhu
  136. Thalictrum pseudoramosum Y.P.Zeng, Q.Yuan & Q.E.Yang
  137. Thalictrum pubescens Pursh
  138. Thalictrum pubigerum Benth.
  139. Thalictrum pudicum Standl. & B.Boivin
  140. Thalictrum pumilum Ulbr.
  141. Thalictrum punduanum Wall.
  142. Thalictrum ramosum B.Boivin
  143. Thalictrum reniforme Wall.
  144. Thalictrum reticulatum Franch.
  145. Thalictrum rhynchocarpum Quart.-Dill. & A.Rich.
  146. Thalictrum robustum Maxim.
  147. Thalictrum rochebruneanum Franch. & Sav. Plant FAQs: Rochebrun’s Meadow Rue – Thalictrum Rochebrunianum/Thalictrum Rochebruneanum
  148. Thalictrum roseanum B.Boivin
  149. Thalictrum rostellatum Hook.f. & Thomson
  150. Thalictrum rotundifolium DC.
  151. Thalictrum rubescens Ohwi
  152. Thalictrum rutifolium Hook.f. & Thomson
  153. Thalictrum sachalinense Lecoy.
  154. Thalictrum saniculiforme DC.
  155. Thalictrum scabrifolium Franch.
  156. Thalictrum secundum Edgew.
  157. Thalictrum semiscandens W.W.Sm.
  158. Thalictrum sessile Hayata
  159. Thalictrum sexnervisepalum W.T.Wang
  160. Thalictrum sharpii B.Boivin
  161. Thalictrum shensiense W.T.Wang & S.H.Wang
  162. Thalictrum siamense T.Shimizu
  163. Thalictrum simaoense W.T.Wang & G.H.Zhu
  164. Thalictrum simplex L.
  165. Thalictrum smithii B.Boivin
  166. Thalictrum sparsiflorum Turcz. ex Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
  167. Thalictrum speciosissimum Loefl.
  168. Thalictrum × spurium Timeroy ex Jord.
  169. Thalictrum squamiferum Lecoy.
  170. Thalictrum squarrosum Stephan ex Willd.
  171. Thalictrum standleyi Steyerm.
  172. Thalictrum stenantherum W.T.Wang
  173. Thalictrum steyermarkii Standl.
  174. Thalictrum stolzii Ulbr.
  175. Thalictrum strigillosum Hemsl.
  176. Thalictrum sultanabadense Stapf
  177. Thalictrum tacabicum Pakravan & Assadi
  178. Thalictrum tamurae Kadota & Nob.Tanaka
  179. Thalictrum tenue Franch.
  180. Thalictrum tenuisubulatum W.T.Wang
  181. Thalictrum texanum (E.Hall ex A.Gray) Small
  182. Thalictrum × timeroyi Jord.
  183. Thalictrum torresii Standl. & B.Boivin
  184. Thalictrum toyamae Hatus. & Ohwi
  185. Thalictrum treleasei B.Boivin
  186. Thalictrum trichopus Franch.
  187. Thalictrum tripeltiferum B.Boivin
  188. Thalictrum triternatum Rupr.
  189. Thalictrum tsawarungense W.T.Wang & S.H.Wang
  190. Thalictrum tuberiferum Maxim.
  191. Thalictrum tuberosum L.
  192. Thalictrum uchiyamae Nakai
  193. Thalictrum ujiinsulare Hatus.
  194. Thalictrum umbricola Ulbr.
  195. Thalictrum uncatum Maxim.
  196. Thalictrum uncinatum Rehmann
  197. Thalictrum uncinulatum Franch.
  198. Thalictrum urbaini Hayata
  199. Thalictrum ussuriense Luferov
  200. Thalictrum venturii B.Boivin
  201. Thalictrum venulosum Trel.
  202. Thalictrum vesiculosum Lecoy.
  203. Thalictrum virgatum Hook.f. & Thomson
  204. Thalictrum viscosum W.T.Wang & S.H.Wang
  205. Thalictrum wangii B.Boivin
  206. Thalictrum watanabei Yatabe
  207. Thalictrum wuyishanicum W.T.Wang & S.H.Wang
  208. Thalictrum xiaojinense W.T.Wang
  209. Thalictrum xinningense W.T.Wang
  210. Thalictrum yadongense W.T.Wang
  211. Thalictrum yunnanense W.T.Wang
  212. Thalictrum yuoxiense W.T.Wang
  213. Thalictrum zernyi Ulbr.
  214. Thalictrum zhadaense W.T.Wang

The Allure of Subtlety

I’m particularly fond of the way Thalictrum dances in the breeze. The flowers, lacking true petals, are composed of colorful sepals and long, prominent stamens that give them a wispy, ethereal quality. They sway gracefully, creating a sense of movement and tranquility in the garden.

The foliage, too, is a major draw. The leaves are often bluish-green, adding a cool, calming element to the landscape. Their delicate texture provides a beautiful contrast to bolder plants, softening hard edges and creating a sense of harmony.

Cultivating Meadow Rue

One of the things I appreciate about Thalictrum is its adaptability. While most species prefer partial shade and moist, well-drained soil, they can tolerate a range of conditions. Some thrive in full sun, while others tolerate drier soils. This makes them a versatile choice for gardeners of all levels.

They’re relatively low-maintenance plants, requiring minimal care once established. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage prolonged blooming, and dividing clumps every few years can help maintain vigor.

Beyond the Garden

Thalictrum has a history of use in traditional medicine, particularly in Asia. Some species have been used to treat a variety of ailments, including fever, inflammation, and skin conditions. However, it’s important to note that more research is needed to fully understand the medicinal properties of these plants.

A Personal Connection

For me, Thalictrum represents more than just a beautiful garden plant. It symbolizes resilience, adaptability, and the beauty of understated elegance. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most captivating things are those that don’t shout for attention, but rather whisper their beauty to those who take the time to notice.

Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out, I encourage you to explore the world of Thalictrum. These enchanting plants are sure to bring a touch of magic to your garden, captivating you with their subtle charm and graceful presence.

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