Common Meadow-rue

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Common Meadow-Rue
• yellow meadow-rue

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Thalictrum controversum subsp. flavum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Ranunculales, falling into the family Ranunculaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Thalictrum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across various regions of Northern Europe. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark and Finland. Its presence is also well-documented throughout the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Additionally, the species inhabits the northern territories of Norway. Together, these locations define its specific geographical range within the northern continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Thalictrum flavum is characterized by its preference for moist and diverse terrestrial environments, specifically thriving within forests, meadows, riverine areas, and shrubberies. It is highly adapted to damp conditions, often found in wet habitats where water availability is consistent. Geographically, the species exhibits a very specific altitudinal niche, maintaining a consistent presence at an elevation of approximately 500 m AMSL, as its recorded minimum, mean, and maximum elevational ranges all converge at this single point.

Elevational range max:

500 m AMSL

Habitat :

forest, meadows: wet, rivers, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Thalictrum flavum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a hemicryptophyte, meaning its perennable buds are located at or just below the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or organic debris during unfavorable conditions. Furthermore, this species exhibits a deciduous nature, shedding its foliage annually as it enters a period of dormancy, ensuring its survival through seasonal climatic shifts.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Thalictrum flavum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. The plant is a self-supporting species that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it act as an epiphyte or parasite, maintaining an independent life cycle. It is a terrestrial plant with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.45 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, with an average plant height of approximately 1.05 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.05 m

Plant height min:

0.45 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Thalictrum flavum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on traditional autotrophic methods for nutrient acquisition. Its leaf morphology plays a significant role in its physiological performance, with leaves maintaining a mean length of 5.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, and a mean width of 1.8 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of 325.425 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 261 cm²/g, a metric that reflects its leaf mass per area and provides insight into its resource allocation strategies and light-harvesting capabilities.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf size mean:

325.425 cm²

Leaf width mean:

1.8 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

261 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Thalictrum flavum is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent. The flowering period typically begins in June and concludes in July. During the flowering stage, the plant utilizes an insect-based pollination syndrome, specifically involving bees, to facilitate fertilization; notably, self-fertilization is present within the species. The resulting fruit is classified as an achene, which is indehiscent. The seeds produced are quite small, with a minimum mass of 0.00099 g, a mean mass of 0.001361 g, and a maximum mass of 0.00147 g. For the distribution of its offspring, the plant employs a dual dispersal strategy, utilizing both hydrochorous (water) and anemochorous (wind) syndromes to spread its seeds.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit type :

achene

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00147 g

Seed mass mean:

0.001361 g

Seed mass min:

0.00099 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Thalictrum flavum has 7 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Glaucine, Hernandezine, Thalfoetidine, Thalicsimidine, Thalidazine.

Glaucine

1. Acta pharmaceutica Nordica

Hernandezine

1. Acta pharmaceutica Nordica

Thalfoetidine

1. Acta pharmaceutica Nordica

Thalicsimidine

1. Acta pharmaceutica Nordica

Thalidazine

1. Acta pharmaceutica Nordica

Thaliglucine

1. Acta pharmaceutica Nordica

berberine

1. Acta pharmaceutica Nordica