# rue anemone (*Thalictrum thalictroides*) Rue anemone is a pretty little flower that blooms in spring. Its delicate white petals and yellow centers make it look like tiny stars in the forest! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 42 - **Habitat:** Forests ![rue anemone](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Rue_Anemone_Thalictrum_thalictroides_Flower_2479px.jpg&width=800) Photo: Photo by and (c)2007 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), GFDL 1.2 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rue_Anemone_Thalictrum_thalictroides_Flower_2479px.jpg) ## Appearance The rue anemone is a delicate woodland plant with airy, white to sometimes pinkish flowers that resemble tiny stars. Its leaves are finely divided, similar to a maidenhair fern, giving it a soft, feathery appearance distinct from other early spring bloomers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Ranunculales - **Family:** Ranunculaceae - **Genus:** Thalictrum ## Interesting facts - Its name "anemone" comes from a Greek word meaning "windflower," referring to its delicate stems. - Rue anemone leaves look a bit like the herb meadow rue, giving it its common name. - The plant often goes completely dormant by early summer, waiting for next year's spring! - Those beautiful white "petals" on the rue anemone are actually sepals, not true petals! ## Special abilities - **Ant Courier Service:** Rue anemone has seeds with a fatty cap called an elaiosome that ants carry, helping spread its seeds! - **Early Bird Bloomer:** Rue anemone can bloom in early spring, soaking up sunlight before the forest canopy fills in with leaves. - **Ephemeral Act:** Rue anemone's leaves and flowers disappear by summer, letting it survive heat and drought underground! ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 15-30 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring to late spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Red-bellied miner bee (*Andrena erythrogaster*) — Visits flowers for nectar - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — Browses on its foliage - **Depends on:** Silky field ant (*Formica subsericea*) — Disperses seeds for treats ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always look but don't touch flowers without asking an adult, as some plants can be sensitive. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify rue anemone? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is rue anemone? 15-30 cm ### How wide does rue anemone spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on rue anemone? 1-2.5 cm ### When does rue anemone bloom? Early spring to late spring ### Is rue anemone edible? No ### Is rue anemone toxic? Mild ### What is rue anemone's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Bald Eagle State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bald-eagle-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackhand-gorge-state-nature-preserve) — Ohio, US · Nature Reserve - [Buchanan State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/buchanan-state-forest) — Pennsylvania, US · Forest - [Camp Misty Mount Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-misty-mount-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Fort Payne Boom Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-payne-boom-town-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District [View all places to see rue anemone](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rue-anemone) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Rue Anemone: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rue-anemone)