meadow-rue, in botany: A genus of plants belonging to the class of polyandria, and order of polygynia; and in the natural system ranging under the 26th order, Multiflora. There is no calyx; the petals are four or five in number, and the seeds are naked and without a tail. There are 15 species; three of which are indigenous, the flavum, minus, and alpinum.

1. The flavum, or common meadow-rue, has a leafy furrowed stalk, and a manifled erect panicle. It has commonly 24 stamens, and from 10 to 16 pistils. The root and leaves of this plant dye a yellow colour, and cattle are fond of it. It grows on the banks of some rivers: It is found at North Queen's-ferry, Fifeshire. 2. The minus, or small meadow-rue, has expartite leaves, and bending flowers. The stalk is striated, and about a foot high; the leaves are lax and divaricated, having rigid footstalks; they are smooth and glaucous, and their lobes generally trifid; the panicle is branched and open, and the flowers nod: the petals are pale green, tinged with red; the stamens are from 15 to 20; the seeds deeply striated, and from two to seven in number. This plant is frequent in sandy soils and mountainous pastures.

3. The alpinum, or alpine meadow-rue, has a very simple stalk, and almost naked; and a racemus simple and terminal. It is a pretty little plant, about a fingers-length in height; the leaves all rise from the root, the stalk being naked and branched; the flowers nod, and have 4 petals, 12 stamens, and 8 pistils. It is frequent on the sides of rivulets in the highland mountains and other places.