Rue-anemone
Thalictrum thalictroides
- Plant Type
- Forb/herb (Deciduous)
- Landscape Layer
- Ground Cover
- Spring Ephemeral
- Yes
- Sun
- ⛅ Part Sun, ☁️ Shade
- Moisture
- 🏜️ Dry, 💧 Regular
- Soil
- Loam, Sand
- Bloom
- April, May, June
- Sociability
- S1 – Solitary / small clusters
Pollinator Value
- ❄️ Winter Food Source
- Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) consumes the tuberous roots and seeds, with Thalictrum thalictroides comprising up to 17.9% occurrence in diet studies.
S57 Ruffed Grouse, 17.9% occurrence, 6.75% by weight
Ecology & Conservation
- Proximity Score
- 2
- Native Status
- ❌ Outaouais ❌ Ottawa ❌ QC ✅ ON
- Closest Direction
- SE
- CEC Eco-Regions
- 8 – Eastern Temperate Forests, 8.1 – Mixed Wood Plains, 8.1.7 – Northeastern Coastal Zone
- Rarity Notes
- Ranked S3 (Vulnerable) in Ontario and N3 nationally in Canada, reflecting its limited Canadian range confined to southern Ontario. Globally secure (G5). Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. NatureServe lists it as native to only 21 US states plus Ontario, with its Canadian range representing the northernmost extent.
- Rarity Ranks
- QC SNA – Not Applicable, ON S3 – Vulnerable
- Migration
- Stable
- Ecological Context
- A spring ephemeral of rich deciduous forests, typically found in oak-hickory and beech-maple associations on well-drained slopes and banks. In Ontario rated S3 (Vulnerable) and nationally N3 in Canada, occurring only at the northern edge of its range. Nearest documented occurrences to the Outaouais are in eastern Ontario (Larue Mills area, ~180 km SE). Characteristic of mature forest understories on humus-rich, slightly acidic soils.
S6 deciduous woods, banks, thickets; S7 oak-hickory-sugar maple woods; S22 S3 ON, N3 CA; S15 nearest obs Larue Mills ON
Permaculture & Companion Planting
- Roles
- Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 19 bee associations (threshold=3)]
- Notes
- Valued woodland garden companion due to its juglone tolerance, deer resistance, and early bloom season. Its compact stature (under 30 cm) and shade tolerance make it suitable for the ground layer beneath deciduous canopy trees, where it fills the early spring pollination gap before canopy leaf-out.
S3 deer resistant, juglone tolerant, woodland garden; S6 10-30 cm
Medicinal Properties ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →
ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →- Category
- Antidiarrheal, Antiemetic
S28 Cherokee Drug categories
- Notes
- Cherokee traditional medicine used an infusion of the root to treat diarrhea and vomiting. Two drug uses documented by Moerman from Hamel & Chiltoskey (1975) Cherokee ethnobotany.
S28 Cherokee antidiarrheal + antiemetic; S6 Cherokee root infusions
Edibility & Foraging ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
Click here for more info →
ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
Click here for more info →❌ Not Edible
- Foraging Notes
- No edible uses documented. All parts are considered poisonous when fresh, causing inflammation, blistering on contact with sap, and gastrointestinal irritation if ingested.
- Toxicity
-
△ Low Toxicity
All parts are toxic when fresh. Contact with fresh sap may cause inflammation and blistering. Ingestion causes mouth irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea, though toxicity is significant only in large quantities. Member of Ranunculaceae, which commonly contains protoanemonin. Not listed in Cornell toxicology database, suggesting low veterinary significance.
Seed Source
- Localeaf