1. A. thalictroìdes, Spach. (Rue-Anemone.) Stem and slender petiole of radical leaf (a span high) rising from a cluster of thickened tuberous roots; leaves 2–3-ternately compound; leaflets roundish, somewhat 3-lobed at the end, cordate at the base, long-petiolulate, those of the 2–3-leaved 1–2-ternate involucre similar; flowers several in an umbel; sepals oval (½´ long, rarely pinkish), not early deciduous. (Thalictrum anemonoides, Michx.)—Woods, common, flowering in early spring with Anemone nemorosa, and considerably resembling it. Rarely the sepals are 3-lobed like the leaflets.
5. THALÍCTRUM, Tourn. Meadow-Rue.
Sepals 4–5, petal-like or greenish, usually caducous. Petals none. Achenes 4–15, grooved or ribbed, or else inflated. Stigma unilateral. Seed suspended.—Perennials, with alternate 2–3-ternately compound leaves, the divisions and the leaflets stalked; petioles dilated at base. Flowers in corymbs or panicles, often polygamous or diœcious. (Derivation obscure.)
[*] Flowers diœcious or sometimes polygamous, in ample panicles; filaments slender; stigmas elongated, linear or subulate; achenes sessile or short-stipitate, ovoid, pointed, strongly several-angled and grooved.
1. T. diòicum, L. (Early Meadow-Rue.) Smooth and pale or glaucous, 1–2° high; leaves (2–3) all with general petioles; leaflets drooping, rounded and 3–7-lobed; flowers purplish and greenish, diœcious; the yellowish anthers linear, mucronate, drooping on fine capillary filaments.—Rocky woods, etc.; common. April, May.
2. T. polýgamum, Muhl. (Tall M.) Smooth, not glandular, 4–8° high; stem-leaves sessile; leaflets rather firm, roundish to oblong, commonly with mucronate lobes or tips, sometimes puberulent beneath; panicles very compound; flowers white, the fertile ones with some stamens; anthers not drooping, small, oblong, blunt, the mostly white filaments decidedly thickened upwards. (T. Cornuti, Man., not L.)—Wet meadows and along rivulets, N. Eng. to Ohio and southward; common. July–Sept.
3. T. purpuráscens, L. (Purplish M.) Stem (2–4° high) usually purplish; stem-leaves sessile or nearly so; leaflets more veiny and reticulated beneath, with or without gland-tipped or glandless hairs or waxy atoms; panicles compound; flowers (sepals, filaments, etc.) greenish and purplish, diœcious; anthers linear or oblong-linear, mucronulate, drooping on capillary filaments occasionally broadened at the summit.—Dry uplands and rocky hills, S. New Eng. to Minn., and southward. May, June.
[*][*] Flowers all perfect, corymbed; the filaments strongly club-shaped or inflated under the small and short anther; stigma short; achenes gibbous, long-stipitate.
4. T. clavàtum, DC. Size and appearance of n. 1; leaves only twice ternate; flowers white, fewer; achenes 5–10, flat, somewhat crescent-shaped, tapering into the slender stipe.—Mountains of Va. and southward. June.
6. TRAUTVETTÈRIA, Fisch. & Mey. False Bugbane.