About Thalictrum occidentale A.Gray
Thalictrum occidentale A.Gray, commonly known as western meadow-rue, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family. It is native to northwestern North America, ranging from Alaska and western Canada south to northern California and east to Wyoming and Colorado. It grows in both shady habitats like forest understory and more open, moist habitats such as meadows. This plant is a hairless to lightly hairy, glandular perennial herb that grows erect, reaching a maximum height of around one meter. Its leaves have compound blades divided into a few or many segments, which often bear three lobes, and grow on long, slender petioles. The inflorescence is an upright or arching panicle of flowers, with leaflike, lobed bracts often growing at its base. The species is dioecious, meaning male and female flowers grow on separate plants, and it is wind pollinated. Male flowers have a bell-shaped calyx made of four sepals that are greenish white or purple in color. Many long purple stamens tipped with large anthers dangle from this calyx. Female flowers hold a cluster of immature fruits tipped with purple styles. Each cluster contains 4 to 9 fruits, and occasionally can hold up to 14 fruits.
