Alpine meadow-rue is a
rhizomatous perennial herb growing up to tall. The stems are upright and usually unbranched and leafless. Most of the leaves form a basal rosette, their compound blades are one to two
pinnate and divided into small, triangular-ovate, scalloped leaflets. Each leaflet is longer than it is broad, slightly recurved, shiny dark green above and pale bluish-green below. The
inflorescence is a
raceme of flowers that arches over as the flowers and fruit develop. Each flower has a bell-shaped calyx of green or purplish
sepals bearing up to fifteen long purple
stamens tipped with large yellow anthers. There is a single carpel and no petals. The fruit is a dry
achene with longitudinal ridges and tipped with a bristle. This species is normally pollinated by wind while other species of meadow-rue are usually insect-pollinated.
Phytochemistry The plant contains an
alkaloid 'Thalidisine', which is also present in other
Thalictrum species. ==Distribution and habitat==