Veined Meadowrue (Thalictrum venulosum)

Life history

Species overview

Veined Meadowrue (Thalictrum venulosum), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in Wisconsin in pine forests on Lake Superior barrier spits. In Michigan, it occurs on wet calcareous Great Lakes shores and thickets along riverbanks. It is also known from prairies, riparian woods, and coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests (Flora of North America), cobble shorelines, wet meadows, and calcareous rock outcrops along or near shorelines of large lakes (New York Natural Heritage Program 2008), rocky or gravelly soil, often along shores (Gleason and Cronquist 1991) and alluvial or rocky river shores, and talus (Haines and Vining 1998). Blooming occurs late June through early July; fruiting occurs throughout July. The optimal identification period for this species is late June through early July.

Synonyms: Thalictrum venulosum var. lunellii

Identification

• Distinguishing characteristics: Boreal species. Achenes more convex on the lower side than the upper.
• Flower characteristics: Slender panicle with ascending branches; flowers mostly unisexual, drooping; sepals pinkish to greenish white; filaments colored yellow to red, very exserted.
• Fruit characteristics: Small, dry, with a single locule and a single seed attached to the ovary wall at a single point. 4 to 6 mm, with the lower margin more convex than the upper.
• Leaf characteristics: Usually at least sparsely glandular beneath, those below the inflorescence petioled.

Phenology

• Blooming phenology: late June through early July
• Fruiting phenology: throughout July
• Optimum time to identify: The optimal identification period for this species is late June through early July

Other

• Growth form: Forb-erect
• Vegetative reproduction: Rhizomatous
• Life cycle: Perennial
• Comments: Associated Species: Pinus resinosa, P. strobus, Prunus pensylvanica, Toxicodendron radicans, Populus balsamifera, Rubus strigosus.

State status

Status and Natural Heritage Inventory documented occurrences in Wisconsin

The table below provides information about the protected status - state and federal - and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Veined Meadowrue (Thalictrum venulosum). See the Working List Key for more information about abbreviations. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.

Habitats and landscapes

The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.

General habitat information

• Habitat description: Found in Wisconsin in pine forests on Lake Superior barrier spits. In Michigan, it occurs on wet calcareous Great Lakes shores and thickets along riverbanks. It is also known from prairies, riparian woods, and coniferous, deciduous, and mixed forests (Flora of North America), cobble shorelines, wet meadows, and calcareous rock outcrops along or near shorelines of large lakes (New York Natural Heritage Program 2008), rocky or gravelly soil, often along shores (Gleason and Cronquist 1991) and alluvial or rocky river shores, and talus (Haines and Vining 1998).
• Soils: Rocky or gravelly soils.

Natural communities

This table lists the natural communities that are associated with Veined Meadowrue. Scores for natural community associations are: "significant" association (score=3), "moderate association" (score=2) or the species can be present but is only weakly associated with the community (score=1).

Ecological landscapes

This table lists the ecological landscape association scores for Veined Meadowrue. The scores (3=High, 2=Moderate, 1=Low, 0=None) also correspond to the map.

Species guidance

The Endangered Resources Program has developed avoidance measures and management guidelines for plants on the Natural Heritage Working List. These are a work in progress, and we welcome your suggestions and feedback. Sources used in developing this information can be found here.

Avoidance measures

These are specific actions designed to avoid "take" (mortality) of this species.

• Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.
• Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides; use care with spot spraying.

Management guidance

Management guidelines are additional considerations that may help maintain or enhance habitat for this species

• Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.
• Maintain low canopy cover areas for savanna and barrens plant species.

Other resources

Links to additional Veined Meadowrue information

Other links related to vascular plants (all exit the DNR website)

• Wisconsin Flora
• NatureServe Explorer
• Atlas of Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora - Wisconsin State Herbarium
• USDA - NRCS Plants Database
• USGS Midwestern Wetland Flora - field office guide to plant species
• eFloras
• Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Herbarium
• Intermountain Herbarium Grasses of North America
• Orchids of Wisconsin

Photos

Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating a photo to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use