Astrantia major

Astrantia major, the great masterwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to central and eastern Europe. Growing to 90 cm (35 in) tall by 45 cm (18 in) broad, it is an herbaceous perennial, much used in gardens.

Astrantia major
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Apiales
Family:
Apiaceae
Genus:
Astrantia
Species:
A. major
Binomial name
Astrantia major
Synonyms
Astrantia major - MHNT

Etymology

The specific epithet major, meaning "larger", distinguishes this species from its smaller relative Astrantia minor.[1]

Description

Astrantia major reaches on average 60 centimetres (24 in) of height. The stem is erect and glabrous, with little branches and few leaves. The basal leaves have a long petiole 10–20 centimetres (3.9–7.9 in), 3 to 7 lobes and toothed segments. Size: 8–15 centimetres (3.1–5.9 in). The cauline leaves are generally two, sessile, amplexicaul and lanceolate-shaped with a trilobed apex. The inflorescence is umbrella-shaped, with 2–3 centimetres (0.79–1.18 in) of diameter. The floral bracts are numerous (10 - 20), 10–18 millimetres (0.39–0.71 in) long, reddish (sometimes white) with acuminate apex. The small flowers are greenish-white with reddish shades. The central ones are hermaphrodite, while the external ones are male. The petals are five, white (or slightly reddened), while the stamens are five and much longer. Size of the flowers: about 1 mm. The flowering period extends from June through September.

Biochemistry

The plant also produces an essential oil,[2] that can be used in herbal medicines.[3] It also contains an Amino acid.[4]

Reproduction

Astrantia major is an entomophilous plant, mainly pollinated by beetles, but also by other insects. This perennial plant reproduces itself also by means of buds present at the ground level.

Distribution

This plant is native to southern Europe (Pyrenees, Carpathians and Balkans), but also in the Caucasus up to Anatolia. It has been in the British Isles since the 16th Century. It has also naturalized in Shropshire near Stokesay Castle,[5] and in Worcestershire.[6]

It is common in mountain meadows and grasslands, in forests and clearings and close to the streams, usually on calcareous soils, at an altitude of 100–2,300 metres (330–7,550 ft) above sea level.

Subspecies
  • Astrantia major L. subsp. carinthiaca (Hoppe) Arcang. : Larger umbels (4–5 cm in diameter) widespread mainly in the eastern Alps.
  • Astrantia major var. involucrata Koch
  • Astrantia major L. subsp. elatior (Frivaldsky) Maly: bracts with 5 nerves and with notched apex; teeth of the calyx are very long; widespread in the Apennines.
  • Astrantia caucasica Auct. Fl.Ital non Sprengel
  • Astrantia major L. subsp. major
  • Astrantia major subsp. biebersteinii (Fisch. & C.A.Mey.) I.Grint. (with synonyms of Astrantia biebersteinii Fisch. & C.A.Mey.,Astrantia colchica Albov, Astrantia intermedia Bieb., Astrantia neglecta C.Koch & Bouche, Astrantia orientalis Woronow, Astrantia ossica Woronow and Astrantia trifida Hoffm. [7])

Cultivation

Many strains of Astrantia major grow well in the garden, given some shade and moisture. Their flowerheads provide summer colour in shades of red, pink and white. The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-

  • A. major 'Roma'[8]
  • 'Sunningdale Variegated'[9]

Other cultivars include:-

  • 'Abbey Road'
  • 'Ruby Cloud'
  • 'Rubra'
  • 'Snow Star'
  • 'Lars'
  • 'Moulin Rouge'
  • 'Star of Heaven'
  • 'Rosea'
  • 'Princess Sturdza'
  • 'Venice'
  • 'Magnum Blush'
  • 'Star of Beauty'
  • 'Vanilla Gorilla'
  • 'Roma'
  • 'Hadspen Blood' (a hybrid crossed with Astrantia maxima)[10]
  • 'Shaggy' (previously 'Margey Fish')[10]
  • A. major 'Star of Beauty'
  • Leaf

References
  1. Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. p. 224. ISBN 9781845337315.
  2. Radulović, N.S.; Mladenović, M.Z.; Ethorđević, N.D. (July 2012). "Chemotypification of Astrantia major L. (Apiaceae): essential-oil and lignan profiles of fruits". Chemistry & Biodiversity. 9 (7): 1320–37. doi:10.1002/cbdv.201100430. PMID 22782878.
  3. Panda, H. Handbook on Medicinal Herbs with Uses, p. 163, at Google Books
  4. Grytsyk, L.M.; Grytsyk, A R; Sas, I.A.; Legin, N.I.; Kolyadjin, T.I. (July 2016). "Study of amino acid composition of Betonica L., Sanicula L. and Astrantia L. Genera Species". The Pharma Innovation. 5 (7): 47–49. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  5. Lloyd, Christopher (1967). Hardy Perennials. Letchworth: Garden City Press. p. 67.
  6. Margery Fish Garden Flowers&pg=PA46 1R2_CAAAQBAJ, p. 46, at Google Books
  7. "Catalogue of Life : Astrantia trifida Hoffm". www.catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  8. "RHS Plant Selector - Astrantia major 'Roma'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  9. "RHS Plant Selector - Astrantia major 'Sunningdale Variegated'". Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  10. The Horticulture Gardener's Guides - Perennials. p. 2.
  • Pignatti S. - Flora d'Italia (3 voll.) - Edagricole – 1982
  • Tutin, T.G. et al. - Flora Europaea, second edition - 1993
  • Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C., 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore
  • Biolib
  • Astrantia major
  • Acta Plantarum
  • Sunningdale Variegated
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