Thalictrum occidentale

Thalictrum occidentale is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family known by the common name western meadow-rue.

Thalictrum occidentale is a perennial herb growing erect to a maximum height around a meter.

The leaves have compound blades divided into a few or many segments, often with three lobes, and are borne on long, slender petioles.

The inflorescence is an upright or arching panicle of flowers with leaflike, lobed bracts often growing at the base.

The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on separate plants, and is wind pollinated.

Male flowers (shown) have four, sometimes six, light green to purplish, obovate 3.5 to 4.5 mm long sepals, no petals, and 15 to 30 disordered hanging stamens with purple-brown threadlike filaments, 4 to 10 mm long. The anthers are sharp-tipped, 1.5 to 4 mm long. [ 1 ]