Early Meadow Rue

When I closed my nursery in 2005, I grabbed a few plants and brought them home to plant. I regret not pulling plants all of the years I had the nursery since I have had to buy many of the perennials I once sold. The plants that were left (after months of cut rate sales), were mostly little known natives or dormant plants. I was able to plant scads of smilacena, hardy cyclamen and a few Thalictrum dioicum or early meadow rue in my garden. So the years have passed and my specimens have spread, the smilacenas are great big sweeps now, the thalictrum have grown into large clumps, not seeding or spreading, just growing larger. I set out to photograph the early meadow rue recently and my 2 clumps appeared to be 2 different species. The flowers were very different, even the height was varied. Funny how I had not noticed that before. So a little research and things become quite clear, early meadow rue is Thalictrum dioicum, which means a thalictrum of 2 sexes. The Greek meaning of dioicum literally means "two households", one plant is female, the other male. Wind pollinated, the light pollen is scattered to the wind and picked up by the female, which appears to be a little more robust in growth, possibly stronger to grow a good crop of seedlings. The industry doesn't separate the 2 in the trade like some other plants but if you search for dioica, dioicus or dioicum you will find several species of plants split by male and female, many that you never imagined might produce 2 different types of flowers with only 1 producing seed. Examples include; Aruncus dioicus, Gymnodladus dioicus or Kentucky Coffee Tree, Silene dioica and Urtica dioica or stinging nettles.  How exciting to learn something new, something that has been growing right under my nose was completely overlooked. One can truly say that gardening is never boring!

male flowering Thalictrum dioicum

  female flowers, Thalictrum dioicum 

Comments

[Shelley Miller]

I love it when you talk plantese. This city girl never understands you but am forever impressed by your talent and knowledge. I also look back fondly on our trips to bridge day, when you would yell out the Latin names of all the plants you would see along the road....like I know what you were talking about! I love reading your blog, and miss not hanging out with you!

[Karen]

Oh Shelley, I think often of Bridge Day, what a good time we had!!! When things calm down we will have to get together for lunch. My treat!