About Thalictrum alpinum L.
Alpine meadow-rue (Thalictrum alpinum L.) is a rhizomatous perennial herb that reaches 5 to 25 cm (2 to 10 in) in height. Its stems are upright, usually unbranched, and leafless. Most leaves grow in a basal rosette; their compound blades are one to two pinnate, divided into small triangular-ovate, scalloped leaflets. Each leaflet is longer than it is wide, slightly recurved, shiny dark green on the upper surface, and pale bluish-green on the lower surface. The inflorescence is a raceme of flowers that arches over as flowers and fruit develop. Each flower has a bell-shaped calyx made of green or purplish sepals, and bears up to fifteen long purple stamens tipped with large yellow anthers. Each flower has a single carpel and no petals. The fruit is a dry achene with longitudinal ridges, tipped with a bristle. This species is normally pollinated by wind, while other meadow-rue species are usually pollinated by insects. Alpine meadow-rue has a circumboreal distribution. It occurs in northern Europe and Asia, Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, and also in mountain ranges further south. Its natural habitat includes tundra, open birch woodland, stream and river banks, lake shores, alpine meadows, and boggy areas. It is occasionally found on fens within and on the fringes of coniferous forests.
