I am hoping someone could ID this. We found it whilst brook trout fishing last summer (2012) and I was not able to make it back to the spot after it flowered. Definitely going back this summer to locate and photograph better. I am unsure if it is the common native Columbine, or Meadow Rue. They are very tall plants (probably 3ft+), and dotted all over the area not far from a brook. Soil is rich, and slightly damp, but probably not damp all year. The foliage color really got my attention, even from a distance. I couldn't believe just how many plants were there. Definitely prolific. In the same area grows the Fiddlehead fern and some Nodding Trillium (rare). https://www.dropbox.com/s/dmn7ebb0c2joret/IMAG0304.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/97te6ii79id99q8/IMAG0305.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/ngxijnn1z4tgjz8/IMAG0306.jpg https://www.dropbox.com/s/lra7vlch83ktyw1/IMAG0309.jpg Sorry the photos are not more clear. They were taken on my cellphone.
It's a Thalictrum, meadow-rue. Only a few large species (>100cm) can be found in Quebec, Thalictrum confine, Thalictrum revolutum, and Thalictrum dasycarpum. Of these, Thalictrum dasycarpum can grow the tallest, and best matches your habitat description, but it is not known from the area (if you click through to the distribution maps). Thalictrum revolutum is known from the Gaspe, but it is disjunct by several hundred kilometres (a really rare find, in that case). Thalictrum confine is fairly common in the area, but the habitat is: "Alluvial or shingly calcareous shores and talus", which I don't think is a match.
Daniel, Thank you so much! I am happy I was pretty close. When we first came across it, I was thinking Columbine because of the foliage. But after further research and seeing the hefty stem, figured it was a Rue. Is there any information regarding flower color? I am assuming a light violet or white at this point. Thanks again Kara
Meadow-rues native to North America all lack petals, and rarely (at all?) have colourful sepals, unlike some of their Asian counterparts. The sepals should be greenish or greenish-white in this instance -- they are not generally known for their flower display in North America.