Astrantia major
| Astrantia major | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Apiales |
| Family: | Apiaceae |
| Genus: | Astrantia |
| Species: | A. major |
| Binomial name | |
| Astrantia major L. |
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| Synonyms | |
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Astrantia major, common name Great Masterwort, is an herbaceous, perennial plant with a rhizome, belonging to the family Apiaceae.
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[edit] Etymology
The genus name (astrantia) derives from the Latin "aster" meaning star and refers to the open star-shaped floral bracts. The name of the species (major) distinguish the Great Masterwort by the smaller species Astrantia minor.
[edit] 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 (0.79–1.2 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 cental 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.
Main varieties of Astrantia major include "Ruby Cloud", "Rubra", "Snow Star", "Sunningdale Variegated", "Lars", "Star of Heaven" and "Rosea".
[edit] 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.
[edit] Distribution
These plants native of Europe and Western Asia are widespread in southern Europe (Pyrenees, Carpathians and Balkans), but also in the Caucasus up to Anatolia. They have been introduced into the British Isles and are well established in various localities.
[edit] Habitat
They are 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 (330–7,500 ft) above sea level.
[edit] 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
[edit] Gallery
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Close-up on a flowers of Astrantia major
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Close-up on flowers of Astrantia major
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Astrantia major var. Star of Beauty
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Leaf of Astrantia major
[edit] References
- 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
[edit] External links
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