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Linnaeus named this genus in 1753.  "Thalictrum" is of ancient and unknown Greek origin.   In 1753 Linnaeus also named Thalictrum alpinum, shown immediately below.
Thalictrum alpinum (Alpine Meadowrue)
Synonym: Thalictraceae (Meadowrue Family).  Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family).

Montane, subalpine, alpine. Wetlands, tundra. Spring, summer.
North of Durango, May 29, 2007.

Thalictrum alpinum is primarily a species of Alaska, northwestern Canada, and the high mountains of the western U.S.  In the Four Corners area it occurs only in a few boggy areas of several counties.  This photograph was taken near Durango in an area where Thalictrum alpinum was a thick ground cover extending over hundreds of square feet.  Leaves are scalloped, no more than a half inch in diameter, and on stems up to several inches long.  Flower stems are up to eight inches long but almost always arched over. (Look carefully at the left photograph, especially at left center.)

 

 Thalictrum fendleri (Meadowrue)
Synonym: Thalictraceae (Meadowrue Family).  Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family).

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Woodlands, meadows. Spring.
Owens basin Trail, June 13, 2004.

Meadowrue is delicate, very common, and often unnoticed.  It grows to two or three feet tall and frequently appears in large dappled patches in forests and meadows.  The delicately scalloped leaves of Meadowrue are similar to Columbine’s leaves but are considerably smaller (see last picture below).  The leaves have a distinct pleasant smell when crushed.  

George Engelmann named this species in 1849, probably from a specimen collected by Augustus Fendler near Santa Fe in 1846.

Thalictrum fendleri (Meadowrue)
Synonym: Thalictraceae (Meadowrue Family).  Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family).

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Woodlands, meadows. Spring.
Taylor Creek Trail, June 2, 2004.

Meadow Rue's leaves delicately unfold in swirls from a small orb.
Thalictrum fendleri (Meadowrue)
Synonym: Thalictraceae (Meadowrue Family).  Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family).

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Woodlands, meadows. Spring.
Owens basin Trail, June 13, 2004.

Meadow Rue's male flowers lack petals and thus attract little attention, but a close look at the flowers reveals very unusual, attractive tassel-like stamens giving the plant a festive atmosphere.

Thalictrum fendleri (Meadowrue)
Synonym: Thalictraceae (Meadowrue Family).  Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family).

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Woodlands, meadows. Spring.
Horse Creek Trail, June 27, 2006.

As stamens fade brown, they contrast with the white sepals.

     

Thalictrum fendleri (Meadowrue)
Synonym: Thalictraceae (Meadowrue Family).  Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family).

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Woodlands, meadows. Spring.
Weminuche Wilderness Trail, June 23, 2007.
Little Taylor Creek Trail, July 28, 2005.

Meadowrue female flowers and seed pods.
Thalictrum fendleri (Meadowrue)
Synonym: Thalictraceae (Meadowrue Family).  Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family).

Foothills, montane, subalpine. Woodlands, meadows. Spring.
Little Taylor Creek Trail, June 16, 2004.

The larger leaves to the right of center are those of Columbine; the smaller leaves at left are those of Meadowrue.  They are very similar and fool us often.