Early Meadow Rue

Another early blooming spring wild flower. Tiny drooping flowers in clusters both terminally and in the leaf axils. Petals absent with 4 to 5 sepals varying from greenish to purplish-brown in color. Male and female flowers on separate plants with male flowers having numerous, yellow, long stamens and female ones with a few pinkish to purple pistils. Leaves pinnately divided 3 times with groups of three bright green leaflets (each 0.75 to 1.5 inches wide) that have bluntly notched margins.

(Photographed at Eagle Lake & the Fletcher Wildlife
Garden - May 8 & 12)