Thalictrum minus - Lesser Meadow Rue

Family:	Ranunculaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1.5
Width:	1
Synonyms:
Range:	Most of Europe, including Britain.

Thalictrum minus (Lesser Meadow Rue) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1.5m and a width of 1m . It has a hardness rating of 6.
Lesser Meadow Rue will flower in December to February. the seeds ripen from January to March
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by Insects, wind

Soil Information

Lesser Meadow Rue will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is / is important for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Lesser Meadow Rue prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Lesser Meadow Rue can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Dry limestone slopes, limestone rocks, cliff ledges, scree, shingle, chalk quarries, banks etc. Ssp arenarium grows on open or closed dunes, ssp majus in damp shady places chiefly by streams and lakes

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge
• Works within dappled Shade
• Can spread to cover ground and will out compete weeds

Cultivation Details

Succeeds in most fairly good humus rich well-drained soils in sun or semi-shade[1, 111]. Plants can be invasive when grown in light soils but do not spread so much in heavy soils[208]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[233]. A greedy plant, inhibiting the growth of nearby plants, especially legumes[54]. A highly polymorphic species, difficult to treat taxonomically[17]. Some forms are dwarf and usually make dense clumps in the garden, larger forms are more invasive, especially in light soils, and can be a nuisance[233].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 1/5
Young leaves - cooked[105, 177]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.

• Leaves -

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
An infusion of the leaves, or a decoction of the root, is used in the treatment of fevers[240].

• Febrifuge - Reduces fevers.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in the autumn in a cold frame[K]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in the summer. The seed can also be sown in an outdoor seedbed in spring[111]. Plant them into their permanent positions the following spring. Division in spring as new growth commences or in the autumn[111]. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Known Hazards

Although no records of toxicity have been found for this plant, it belongs to a family that includes many poisonous plants so some caution is advised.

Other Uses

Plants can be grown as a ground cover when planted about 60cm apart each way[208].

• Ground cover - Usually low growing plants that can be grown with other plants, especially shrubs and trees, to prevent the growth of weeds.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Flora of the British Isles.
Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Author: Clapham, Tootin and Warburg.
Rating:
Publisher : A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
Date of Publication : 1962

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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