Thalictrum alpinum
Arctic meadow-rue
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Conservation status: CNPS 4.3
Thalictrum alpinum (Arctic meadow-rue) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by . Distinctive by elevation and size.
Arctic meadow-rue is a native perennial found in northern Sierra Nevada and northern White and Inyo Mountains in alpine meadows with moist, gravelly soils at elevations of 2,900 to 3,700 meters. Flowering from June to August, this delicate plant produces small white to pale green flowers with thread-like stamens. Growing as a diminutive plant just 5 to 15 centimeters tall, it forms compact clusters with slender, nearly leafless stems. Its basal leaves are divided into small segments 4 to 10 millimeters long, creating a fine, lacy appearance. The plant produces 1 to 6 curved, laterally compressed fruits with distinctive ribbed sides.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: Geographically isolated, no sympatric species. Distinctive by elevation and size.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Meadows, generally moist, gravelly soils
Elevation: 2900-3700 m
California counties: Inyo, Mono
Outside California: to Alaska, New Mexico, Greenland, arctic Eurasia
Bloom period
Thalictrum alpinum blooms Jun-Aug.
Conservation status
CNPS 4.3
How to tell it apart
vs Clematis: Thalictrum has herbaceous stems and tiny petal-less flowers in open clusters; Clematis has woody stems and large showy flowers.; vs Adiantum: Thalictrum has flowers with dangling stamens; Adiantum is a true fern with spores on leaf undersides, never flowers.; vs Aquilegia: Thalictrum has tiny petal-less flowers in open airy clusters; Aquilegia has large showy flowers with distinctive spurs.; vs Lomatium: Thalictrum leaves have rounded, scalloped leaflets; Lomatium leaves are finely divided into narrow linear segments.; vs Enemion: Thalictrum has petal-less flowers with dangling linear anthers; Enemion has 5 white petals and shorter stamens.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thalictrum alpinum native to California?
Yes. Thalictrum alpinum is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Thalictrum alpinum bloom?
Thalictrum alpinum blooms Jun-Aug.
Where in California does Thalictrum alpinum grow?
Thalictrum alpinum occurs in Inyo, Mono, at elevations of 2900-3700 m.
What plant family does Thalictrum alpinum belong to?
Thalictrum alpinum is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Thalictrum.
Is Thalictrum alpinum rare or endangered?
Thalictrum alpinum carries California Rare Plant Rank 4.3, state rank S3.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CNPS Rare Plant Inventory · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos · CDFW CNDDB
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.