Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri
Fendler's meadow rue
(c) joergmlpts, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by joergmlpts · licence
Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri (Fendler's meadow rue) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by . Key features: glandular leaf undersides, fruit compression and ribbing pattern.
Fendler's meadow rue is a California native perennial found in the Klamath Ranges, northern California Mountains, Sierra Nevada, San Francisco Bay Area, southern Coast Ranges, Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges, and Great Basin in moist, open to shaded woodland and forest habitats at elevations of 500 to 3,200 meters. Flowering from May to August, this plant produces delicate, small flowers with pale green or white petals. Growing with slender stems 30 to 80 centimeters tall, it develops an erect and somewhat branching growth habit. Its leaves are complex, with finely divided leaflets that are delicately glandular underneath, creating a soft, feathery appearance. The fruit develops with slightly compressed sides, featuring subtle ribs that distinguish this distinctive meadow rue variety.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 3 sympatric species. Key features: glandular leaf undersides, fruit compression and ribbing pattern.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, open to shaded places, woodland, forest
Elevation: 500-3200 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Mono, Tulare, Riverside, Los Angeles, Inyo, Fresno, El Dorado, Alpine, Placer, Amador, San Diego, Sierra, San Luis Obispo, Plumas, Nevada, Tehama, Butte, Madera, Modoc, Santa Barbara, Tuolumne
Outside California: to Oregon, Wyoming, Texas, northern Mexico
Bloom period
Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri blooms May-Aug.
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 fendleri var. fendleri native to California?
Yes. Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri bloom?
Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri blooms May-Aug.
Where in California does Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri grow?
Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri occurs in San Bernardino, Mono, Tulare, Riverside, Los Angeles, Inyo, Fresno, El Dorado and other counties, at elevations of 500-3200 m.
What plant family does Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri belong to?
Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Thalictrum.
What habitat does Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri grow in?
Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri grows in Moist, open to shaded places, woodland, forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
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.