Thalictrum thalictroides facts for kids

The Rue-anemone (scientific name: Thalictrum thalictroides) is a small, beautiful plant that grows in the woodlands of eastern North America. It's a type of perennial plant, which means it lives for more than two years. It has soft stems and pretty white or pink flowers that bloom in the spring. These flowers are surrounded by a circle of small leaves, making them look very delicate.

What Does the Rue-Anemone Look Like?

A drawing of the Rue-anemone plant.

The Rue-anemone is a smooth plant, meaning it doesn't have hairs on its stems or leaves. It grows from a group of thick, tuber-like roots, which help it store food. Its stems stand straight up and can reach about 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) tall. The flowers grow at the very top of these stems.

The leaves at the bottom of the plant have long stalks, about 10 to 30 centimeters (4 to 12 inches) long. Each leaf is divided into smaller sections, like a clover leaf, but even more complex. The small leaf parts, called leaflets, are round and often have three rounded tips or "lobes" at their ends.

The Flowers of the Rue-Anemone

The Rue-anemone blooms in the spring. Its flowers can grow alone or in small clusters of 3 to 6 flowers, like a tiny umbrella. The flowers have short stems that hold them up above the leaves.

Each flower has 5 to 10 white or light pink "petals" (which are actually sepals, a part of the flower that usually protects the bud). These sepals are about 5 to 18 millimeters (about 1/4 to 3/4 of an inch) long. In the center of the flower, you'll see many bright yellow stamens, which are the parts that produce pollen. There are also 4 to 15 small, rounded structures called carpels in the middle.

How Does the Rue-Anemone Make Seeds?

After the flowers bloom, in late spring, the plant produces small fruits called achenes. These fruits are about 3 to 4.5 millimeters (about 1/8 of an inch) long and are shaped like tiny eggs or spindles. When they are young, they are green and have 8 to 10 clear lines or veins. As they ripen, they turn a dark brown color. Each achene contains a single seed.

How Scientists Name the Rue-Anemone

A close-up photo of the Rue-anemone flowers.

The Rue-anemone has had a few different scientific names over the years. In 1753, a famous scientist named Carl Linnaeus first described it and called it Anemone thalictroides. Later, in 1839, another scientist named Édouard Spach thought it was special enough to have its own group, so he created a new genus called Anemonella just for this plant. He named it Anemonella thalictroides.

However, in 1957, Bernard Boivin suggested that it should be part of the Thalictrum genus, because it's very similar to other plants in that group. Today, many scientists agree with Boivin, especially after looking at the plant's DNA. So, its accepted scientific name is now Thalictrum thalictroides.

Similar Plants

There is another plant that looks a lot like the Rue-anemone, called the false rue-anemone (Enemion biternatum). You can tell them apart because the false rue-anemone usually has only 5 white sepals (the petal-like parts) on its flowers. Also, its flowers grow individually along a branching stem, not in clusters like the Rue-anemone.