Thalictrum revolutum (Waxy-leaf meadow-rue)

Thalictrum revolutum DC.

Waxy-leaf meadow-rue, purple meadowrue, skunk meadowrue, waxy meadowrue

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Magnoliidae	Includes magnolias, nutmeg, bay laurel, cinnamon, avocado, black pepper, and many others
Order	Ranunculales	Basal (evolved earlier) eudicots, also called “true dicots”
Family	Ranunculaceae	Buttercup family
Genus	Thalictrum	From Greek qaliktron (thaliktron), a “plant with divided leaves”
Species	revolutum	From the Latin, revolvo, “to roll back; unroll; to revolve”

About plant names...

Waxy-leaved meadow-rue is a North American native plant.

Identification: Plants are 3-7' (91-213 cm) tall. Leaves are alternate, and ternately compound: each “leaf” is split into three smaller leaves, and each of those is further divided into three leaflets. Leaflets are 1-1½" (2.5-3.8 cm) × ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm), usually leathery, with rounded bases and 1-3 rounded lobes. Leaf tips are more pointed in unlobed leaflets. Leaf undersides and stems are coated with a waxy-looking material that makes them look very light-colored, leaflets almost white. Flowers are white, in multiple racemes or panicles. Fruits are ⅛-³/₁₆" (3.5-5 mm). Plants smell pungent (one common name is skunk meadowrue), especially after a rain.

Online References:

Thalictrum revolutum at Illinois Wildflowers

Thalictrum revolutum on

Thalictrum revolutum on Discover Life

Thalictrum revolutum on eFloras