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Mountain Meadowrue
Thalictrum clavatum

I haven’t yet caught this flowering, but it’s on my list to watch out for. This is a sweet delicate little plant that I used to think was a fern, but it’s not – it’s a meadowrue.

Size:  6"-24" tall 
Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family)
Habitat: Rich moist forests, and along streams. More common in the mountains than in the piedmont.
Identification: "Smooth herbaceous perennial with biternately compound leaves and rounded leaf lobes. Flowers with white petal-like sepals broad white stamens, and slender, elongate flower stalks in few-flowered inflorescenses." From Wildflowers & Plant Communities. Basically I think their flowers sort of look like asters, but not exactly. Flowers May-July
Uses: Thalictrums contain some alkaloids that have the potential to lower blood pressure and inhibit the growth of tumors. But don't ingest this plant.

All text and photos copyright © 2022 Middle Way Nature Reserve, unless noted.
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