meadow rue

American  

noun

1. any of several plants belonging to the genus Thalictrum, of the buttercup family, having leaves resembling those of rue, especially T. dioicum, of North America.

---

meadow rue British  

noun

1. any ranunculaceous plant of the N temperate genus Thalictrum, esp T. flavum, having clusters of small yellowish-green, white, or purple flowers

---

Etymology

Origin of meadow rue

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

meadow rue

Another genus they’ve dug deeply into: Thalictrum, or meadow rue.

From New York Times ● Mar. 17, 2021

One shade bed holds Japanese anemone; pink astilbe; and tall, purple meadow rue, which Cathy allows to self-seed each year.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 22, 2019

We descend, wrapped in a towering grove of aspens, the ground a soft green carpet of meadow rue just yellowing at the edges.

From Time Magazine Archive

So I think with lots of meadow rue for the green stuff and violets and blossoms, it'll be all right.

From The Second Chance by McClung, Nellie L.

Tall trees droop over the calm water, and on its margins grow spearwort, opening its big yellow cups to the sunshine, meadow rue, purple and yellow loosestrife, bog bean, and sweet flag.

From Penelope's Irish Experiences by Wiggin, Kate Douglas Smith