Thalictrum dioicum

Early Meadow-rue

[ click on any image below to see larger version ]

Family: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup family)

Mid-Atlantic bloom time: March - April

Early Meadow-rue is dioecious, meaning individual plants bear either female or male flowers, but not both. On female plants, the flowers have typically purple stigma, and their sepals are shorter and firmer than their male counterparts. On male plants, the flowers have pendulous stamens that are yellow or greenish-yellow. Their sepals are 2.5–3.5 mm and are straw-colored to purple.

29 April 2021 G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, Linden, VA	29 April 2021 G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, Linden, VA	28 May 2021 Shenandoah National Park (Central District), VA (petiole base sheathed in stipule)	28 May 2021 Shenandoah National Park (Central District), VA (with female flowers)
29 April 2021 G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, Linden, VA (female flowers)	28 May 2021 Shenandoah National Park (Central District), VA (female flowers)	29 April 2021 G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, Linden, VA (male flowers)	26 April 2017 G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area, Linden, VA (rain-soaked male flowers)

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