Thalictrum occidentale - Locally common, late spring-early summer, perennial, 12-40 in. Erect, with male and female flowers on separate plants. Mostly stem leaves, few basal. Leaves blue-green, shiny, or with fine hairs with glands, divided 3 times; leaflets 3-4 pairs, very delicate, oval, lobed with coarse teeth. Flowers in loose clusters at top, greenish white or purplish red; male flowers with 15-20 stamens hanging down. Grows in openings in forests, woodlands, along streams, wet places, at low elevations. Native.

The species is dioecious, with male and female flowers occurring on separate plants. The male flower has a bell-shaped calyx of four sepals in shades of greenish white or purple. From the calyx dangle many long, purple stamens tipped with large anthers. The female flower has a cluster of immature fruits tipped with styles in shades of purple. A cluster has 4 to 9, at times up to 14, fruits.