Thalictrum occidentale
Western meadow rue
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Family: Ranunculaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Thalictrum occidentale (Western meadow rue) is a native California herb in the Ranunculaceae family, recognized by . Distinguished by low elevation, coastal location, and reflexed fruits with straight ribs.
Western meadow rue is a California native perennial found in northern Coast Ranges and northwestern Klamath Ranges in moist, shaded conifer forests at elevations below 200 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces delicate white to greenish flowers with thread-like stamens in loose panicle arrangements. Growing with erect stems 40 to 100 centimeters tall, it develops an expansive, dioecious habit with multiple branching stems. Its compound leaves have 11 to 35 millimeter segments, arranged in complex basal and cauline configurations that are glabrous or finely glandular-puberulent. The plant produces 6 to 14 reflexed fruits with compressed lateral bodies 4 to 6 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 2 sympatric species. Distinguished by low elevation, coastal location, and reflexed fruits with straight ribs.
Habitat and range
Habitat: Moist, shaded places, conifer forest
Elevation: < 200 m
Outside California: to British Columbia, Wyoming
Bloom period
Thalictrum occidentale blooms May-Jul.
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 occidentale native to California?
Yes. Thalictrum occidentale is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Thalictrum occidentale bloom?
Thalictrum occidentale blooms May-Jul.
What plant family does Thalictrum occidentale belong to?
Thalictrum occidentale is in the Ranunculaceae family, genus Thalictrum.
What habitat does Thalictrum occidentale grow in?
Thalictrum occidentale grows in Moist, shaded places, conifer forest.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
- Thalictrum sp. — Meadow-rue
- Thalictrum sparsiflorum — Few flowered meadow rue
- Thalictrum alpinum — Arctic meadow-rue
- Thalictrum fendleri — Fendler's meadow rue
- Thalictrum fendleri var. fendleri — Fendler's meadow rue
- Thalictrum fendleri var. polycarpum — Fendler's meadow rue
- Trautvetteria caroliniensis — Carolina bugbane
- Trautvetteria sp.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · 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.