Sun-loving Meadowrue / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Sun-loving Meadowrue (Thalictrum heliophilum)

Full view of several plants in native habitat. Note the open, divided foliage. Photo Credit: Susan Spackman
  • Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Ranunculaceae
  • State: CO
  • Nature Serve ID: 138829
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987
Description:

In contrast to the habitat of the more common meadowrues, the sun-loving meadowrue prefers the intensely hot and dry shale slopes of Colorado's Piceance Basin. Thalictrum heliophilum is dioecious, and therefore male and female flowers are found are separate plants. Future oil shale development in Western Colorado and Utah could threaten this species.

Where is Sun-loving Meadowrue (Thalictrum heliophilum) located in the wild?

Habitat:

T. heliophilum is found on sparsely vegetated, dry shale talus slopes of the Green River Formation at elevations of 6300-8800 ft. (Spackman et al. 1997).

Distribution:

Colorado endemic (Garfield, Mesa, and Rio Blanco Cos.). (Spackman 1997)

States & Provinces:

Sun-loving Meadowrue can be found in Colorado

Which CPC Partners conserve Sun-loving Meadowrue (Thalictrum heliophilum)?

  • Denver Botanic Gardens

    Not Sponsored
    Conservation Actions
    Assigned 06/09/17
    • CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

    Conservation Actions

    • 09/30/2020
      • Propagation Research

    Denver Botanic Gardens has performed germination and growth tests. This species is currently part of the Endangered Species Garden.

    • 09/30/2020
      • Living Collection

    Denver Botanic Gardens has performed germination and growth tests. This species is currently part of the Endangered Species Garden.

    Nature Serve Biotics
    • 05/02/2017

    18 known occurrences; less than 200,000 individuals. Oil shale mining and oil and gas development threaten the habitat of this species throughout its range.

    Thomas Grant
    • 01/01/2010

    Massive habitat degradation due to oil shale development in the Piceance Basin (O'Kane1987, 1988, Scheck 1994).

    Thomas Grant
    • 01/01/2010

    36 known occurrences. (O'Kane 1987)

    Thomas Grant
    • 01/01/2010

    Denver Botanic Gardens has performed germination and growth tests. This species is currently part of the Endangered Species Garden.

    Thomas Grant
    • 01/01/2010

    A formal, centralized plan has not been developed.

    Thomas Grant
    • 01/01/2010

    All aspects of this species ecology need to be studied.

    Thomas Grant
    • 01/01/2010

    Seed Collection and Banking.

    MORE

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    Nomenclature
    Taxon Thalictrum heliophilum
    Authority Wilken & DeMott
    Family Ranunculaceae
    CPC Number 4266
    ITIS 195025
    USDA THHE2
    Duration Perennial
    Common Names sun-loving meadowrue | Cathedral Bluff meadow-rue
    Associated Scientific Names Thalictrum heliophilum
    Distribution Colorado endemic (Garfield, Mesa, and Rio Blanco Cos.). (Spackman 1997)
    State Rank
    State State Rank
    Colorado S2
    Ecological Relationships

    Photos

    Full view of several plants in native habitat. Note the open, divided foliage. Photo Credit: Susan Spackman

    View of plants in characteristic open sunny site. Photo Credit: R.J. Rondeau

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