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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of meadow rue

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

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

The fine lacey tufts of meadow rue are lovely among the pink and white and rose tulips.

From Trees, Fruits and Flowers of Minnesota, 1916 Embracing the Transactions of the Minnesota State Horticultural Society,Volume 44, from December 1, 1915, to December 1, 1916, Including the Twelve Numbers of "The Minnesota Horticulturist" for 1916 by Latham, A. W.

Many kinds of meadow rue, as garden plants, have a bold, graceful appearance; they love moist soil.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 299, September 24, 1881 by Various