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Thalictrum thalictroides
Rue Anemone
Wind Flower
Synonym(s): Anemone thalictroides
Florida native
Endangered Florida species
Limited to moist calcareous hammocks of Leon and Gadsden Counties in Florida, this diminutive wildflower ranges throughout much of the eastern United States as far west as Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa and Minnesota, plus Ontario.
Growing to 15 cm (10 in.) tall this is one of the early spring bloomers, flowering before the forest canopy leafs out to protect it from the intense summer sun. The white to pinkish flowers have 5 to 10 tepals on a thin stalk. What appear to be whorled leaves are actually opposite leaves each with three stemmed leaflets. The leaves are notched to form a usually three-lobed rounded shape.
The delicate structure of this plant gives it the alternate common name "wind flower" as it dances in the breeze.
Thalictrum thalictroides is a member of the Ranunculaceae - Buttercup family.
Atlas of Florida Vascular Plants (Institute for Systemic Botany) profile for this species
USDA Plant Profile for this species
Date record last modified: Aug 07, 2016
