I found this beauty in the Smoky Mountains National Park.
Buttercup Family April 3, 2005 Meadow Rue is a "dioecious" (single sex) plant, the female plant has pistillate flowers; its male counterpart has only staminate flowers. Pollen is spread by the wind. The male flower is more showy with its long yellow stamens. I found this one growing on the Haw Ridge Greenway trail in Oak Ridge in April. Perennial Where seen:Haw Ridge Greenway, Frozen Head SP, University of Tennessee Arboretum, Great Smoky Mountains NP, Warrior's Path SP
Parsley Family The flowers of this plant is are much like the Hairy Meadow Parsnip, but the leaves are different. The leaves are smooth, shiny, and not as toothed. As the species name "trifoliatum" indicates, the upperleaves are composed of three leaflets. The Meadow Parsnips are in the Parsley or Carrot Family. I found these blooming at Frozen Head in early May. Perennial Where seen:Frozen Head SP, Ijams Nature Center
