Early Meadow-rue

Thalictrum dioicum

Pollinator Value

🐛 Larval Host: Eosphoropteryx thyatyroides, Xanthotype sospeta, Calyptra canadensis, Pseudeva purpurigera, Papaipema unimoda, Eugonobapta nivosaria, Trichodezia albovittata, Eupithecia satyrata, Lithophane unimoda, Lacanobia subjuncta, Herpetogramma pertextalis, Xestia dolosa, Xestia c-nigrum, Melanchra adjuncta
S13+S15 14 verified Eastern NA
❄️ Winter Food Source: Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) feeds on Thalictrum seeds, with the genus comprising up to 17.9% occurrence in diet studies. Seeds persist into winter in sheltered woodland habitats.
S57 Ruffed Grouse diet occurrence=17.9%

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) with national rank N5 in Canada. Secure in Ontario (S5) and Apparently Secure in Quebec (S4). Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. Common in the Ottawa flora and well-represented in Quebec herbarium collections with 19 specimens.
S22 G5, N5; S26 not SARA listed; S62 Common in Ottawa; S54 19 QC specimens
Rarity Ranks: QC S4 – Apparently Secure, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: A dioecious spring ephemeral of rich mesic deciduous forests, typically found in maple-basswood and beech-maple woodlands on slopes and alluvial terraces. Blooms before the canopy leafs out, taking advantage of early-season light. In the Ottawa-Gatineau region, found in mature sugar maple forests (erabliere a sucre) on moderate slopes.
S10 rich mesic woodlands; S7 rich deciduous forests; S4 rich woods, slopes, alluvial terraces; S48 erabliere a sucre habitat

Roles: Fortress/Barrier
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)]

Category: Antidiarrheal, Antiemetic, Eye Medicine, Heart Medicine
S28 Cherokee and Iroquois medicinal categories
Notes: Cherokee used root infusion for diarrhea and vomiting. Iroquois used root decoction as a wash for sore eyes from head colds and for heart palpitations. Also recorded by Iroquois for psychoactive effects.
S28 Hamel & Chiltoskey 1975; Herrick 1977

❌ Not Edible

Foraging Notes: No edible uses documented. Moerman NAEB records only medicinal (Drug) uses for this species among Cherokee and Iroquois peoples.
S28 Drug=5, no Food category; S29 no edible uses