Thalictrum fendleri

Engelmann

Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts, ser. 2, 4: 5. 1849.

Common names: Fendler's meadow-rue
Illustrated
Synonyms: Thalictrum fendleri var. platycarpum Trelease Thalictrum fendleri var. wrightii (A. Gray) Trelease
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.

Roots dark brown to ± black (when dry), fibrous. Stems mostly erect, sometimes reclining, (20-)30-60(-150) cm, glabrous, from rhizomes or branched caudices. Leaves mainly cauline, mostly short-petiolate. Leaf blade green, (2-)3-4×-ternately compound, membranous; leaflets obliquely orbiculate or nearly cordate, apically 3-lobed, (5-)10-20 × (6-)8-12(-18) mm wide, lobe margins crenate, surfaces abaxially often glandular. Inflorescences terminal and axillary, panicles, open and leafy, many flowered. Flowers: sepals whitish or greenish, in staminate flowers ovate to elliptic, 3-5 mm; in pistillate flowers ovate to rhombic or broadly lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm; filaments deep yellow or purplish, 4-7.5 mm; anthers 2.2-3.4 mm, apiculate with tip to 0.8 mm; stigma purplish. Achenes 7-11(-14), not reflexed, sessile to short-stipitate; stipe 0-2 mm; body oblanceolate to obliquely obovate-elliptic, strongly laterally compressed, (5-)9(-11) mm, glandular or glabrous, 3-4(-5)-veined on each side, veins ± parallel, converging toward ends (rarely branched or sinuous), not anastomosing-reticulate; beak 1.5-4 mm.


Phenology: Flowering early-mid summer (Jun–Aug).
Habitat: Willow, birch, mountain brush, sagebrush-snowberry, boxelder-cottonwood, alder, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, aspen-tall forb, and spruce-fir communities
Elevation: 1100-3300 m

Distribution

V3 936-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., Oreg., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wyo., n Mexico.

Discussion

The stems and achenes of Thalictrum fendleri are often purplish.

Decoctions prepared from the roots of Thalictrum fendleri were used medicinally by Native Americans to cure colds and gonorrhea, and in ceremonies (D. E. Moerman 1986).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Thalictrum fendleri"
Marilyn M. Park +  and Dennis Festerling Jr. +
Engelmann +
Heterogamia +
Fendler's meadow-rue +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, Oreg. +, S.Dak. +, Tex. +, Utah +, Wyo. +  and n Mexico. +
1100-3300 m +
Willow, birch, mountain brush, sagebrush-snowberry, boxelder-cottonwood, alder, ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, aspen-tall forb, and spruce-fir communities +
Flowering early-mid summer (Jun–Aug). +
Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts, ser. +
Illustrated +
Thalictrum fendleri var. platycarpum +  and Thalictrum fendleri var. wrightii +
Thalictrum fendleri +
Thalictrum sect. Heterogamia +
species +