Thalictrum hepaticum Greene. Section: Leucocoma. Appalachian Tall Meadowrue. Phen: May-Jul. Hab: Seepage areas. Dist: PA south to n. GA and se. TN, strictly or primarily in the Appalachians.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Plants tentatively placed here have been problematic. Keener (1981) reduced T. hepaticum Greene to a variety of T. pubescens, and discussed their distinction. Park (1992) contends that these plants are, indeed, glandular puberulent, and should therefore be reduced to synonymy under T. revolutum, stating "these are not given varietal status [under T. revolutum] since this morphological variation in anthers is not correlated with a continuous geographic range. As indicated above, I have located specimens from Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania which fit the description." As mapped by Keener (1981) T. pubescens var. hepaticum (Greene) Keener appears as an endemic to the Southern Appalachians; if extended to Pennsylvania, the distribution is still very restricted (and in a phytogeographically plausible manner) compared to either T. revolutum or T. pubescens. This entity appears to be closer to T. pubescens in leaflet shape, sepal length, anther length, and stigma length, and to T. revolutum in leaflet and petiolule vestiture. More study is needed; the taxon is here provisionally accepted in order to draw attention to the problem.

Synonymy: = Thalictrum pubescens Pursh var. hepaticum (Greene) Keener – W; < Thalictrum polygamum Muhl. ex Spreng. – F, G, RAB, S, nomen nudum; < Thalictrum pubescens Pursh – C, GW2, K1, K4, Va, WV; < Thalictrum revolutum DC. – FNA3, Pa, Tn

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FAC (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACW (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily: 4