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Ranunculaceae Family - "Purple Meadow Rue, Maid-of-the-mist"

Thalictrum is the name of a plant applied to this genus by Dioscorides, ancient Greek naturalist. Dasycarpum is from the Latin word meaning "hairy-carpelled". (The carpel is the seed-bearing organ of a plant.)

Quite common on moist to wet prairies, meadows and along creekbanks. Can reach 6 feet tall; purple-tinged stem branches towards the top into large clumps of soft, almost feathery flowers; flower heads can be a foot or more long and have no true petals. Male flowers are more fluffy and delicate with long, very obvious stamens. Male and female flowers are generally on separate plants, but occasionally appear on a single plant. Flowers are white with a green tint.

Native Americans made a tea from the root of this plant to help reduce fevers. Some tribes smoked the seeds to bring good luck while hunting. Young men of those tribes also smoked the seeds with tobacco while calling on the opposite sex...we don't know why.

The seeds are the best source of thalicarpine, a drug with cancer-controlling properties. Research is ongoing.