alpine meadow-rue

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• alpine meadow-rue
• arctic meadow-rue
• dwarf meadow-rue

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Thalictrum alpinum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is categorized under the order Ranunculales and the family Ranunculaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is defined by the genus Thalictrum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution pattern across the northern regions of Europe. It can be found growing in the landscapes of Finland and the islands of Føroyaar. Additionally, its presence extends to the rugged terrains of Iceland. The species is also documented within the borders of Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range includes the lush environments of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Thalictrum alpinum is characterized by its presence in high-altitude environments, where it thrives within diverse landscapes such as meadows, mountains, stony places, and tundra. This species is specifically adapted to alpine and subarctic conditions, occupying an elevational range that begins at 2,000 m AMSL and extends up to a maximum of 5,300 m AMSL. With a mean elevational range of approximately 4,830 m AMSL, the plant is a specialist of extreme, high-elevation ecosystems, navigating the rugged terrain and varied substrates of montane and tundra habitats.

Elevational range max:

5300 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

4830 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2000 m AMSL

Habitat :

meadows, mountains, stony places, tundra

Life history

The life history of Thalictrum alpinum is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its environment over multiple growing seasons. As a perennial, it establishes a stable presence within its habitat, often utilizing stored energy reserves to survive unfavorable conditions. Its structural development is defined by its classification as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or snow cover during the dormant season. This combination of a long-lived lifecycle and a hemicryptophytic growth habit enables the species to effectively navigate the seasonal fluctuations of its typical alpine or subalpine environments.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Thalictrum alpinum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This plant is a self-supporting species, meaning it does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it grows as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It is a terrestrial plant, occupying land-based habitats rather than aquatic or semiaquatic environments. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small species with a plant height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.05 m to a maximum of 0.2 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.078 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.2 m

Plant height mean:

0.078 m

Plant height min:

0.05 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Thalictrum alpinum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which is typical for many alpine species adapted to cooler, temperate environments. The plant's vegetative morphology reveals a specialized leaf structure, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, maintaining a mean leaf length of 2.75 cm. These leaves possess a mean surface area of approximately 1.06922 cm², reflecting a compact growth habit suited to its habitat. Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 158.9 cm²/g, a metric that provides insight into its leaf thickness and resource allocation strategies regarding light interception and water use efficiency.

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.75 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

1.06922 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

158.9 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Thalictrum alpinum is characterized by its bisexual flowers, which facilitate sexual reproduction through self-compatibility or cross-pollination. The flowering period for this species typically begins in June and extends through July. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits that maintain a consistent length of approximately 0.3 cm, with both the minimum, maximum, and mean measurements recorded at this value. The resulting seeds are quite fine, possessing a mean mass of 0.0231285 g. For the spread of its offspring, Thalictrum alpinum utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length max:

0.3 cm

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

0.0231285 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Thalictrum alpinum has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Northalrugosidine.

Northalrugosidine

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Thalictrum alpinum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include visceral leishmaniasis.

Visceral leishmaniasis

1. Journal of natural products