Astrantia major



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

Etymology
The Latin specific epithet major, meaning "larger", distinguishes this species from its smaller relative Astrantia minor.

Description
Astrantia major reaches on average 60 cm of height. The stem is erect and glabrous, with little branches and few leaves. The basal leaves have a long petiole 10 - 20 cm, 3 to 7 lobes and toothed segments. Size: 8 - 15 cm. The cauline leaves are generally two, sessile, amplexicaul and lanceolate-shaped with a trilobed apex. The inflorescence is umbrella-shaped, with 2 - 3 cm of diameter. The floral bracts are numerous (10 - 20), 10 - 18 mm 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 that can be used in herbal medicines.

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 and habitat
This plant is native to southern Europe (the Pyrenees, Carpathians and Balkans), but also in the Caucasus up to Anatolia. It is found in the countries of Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, North Caucasus, Poland, Romania, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and Yugoslavia.

It has been in the British Isles since the 16th century. It has also naturalized in Shropshire near Stokesay Castle, and in Worcestershire.

It is common in mountain meadows and grasslands, in forests and clearings, and close to the streams, usually on calcareous soils, at an elevation of 100 - 2300 m above sea level.

Subspecies

 * Astrantia major subsp. carinthiaca : Larger umbels  (4–5 cm in diameter) widespread mainly in the eastern Alps.
 * Astrantia major var. involucrata
 * Astrantia major subsp. elatior : 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 subsp. major
 * Astrantia major subsp. biebersteinii (with synonyms of Astrantia biebersteinii ,Astrantia colchica, Astrantia intermedia , Astrantia neglecta , Astrantia orientalis , Astrantia ossica  and Astrantia trifida  )

Kew only accepts (in 2022); Astrantia major subsp. apenninica, Astrantia major subsp. carinthiaca, Astrantia major subsp. elatior, Astrantia major subsp. major and Astrantia major subsp. pyrenaica

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'
 * 'Sunningdale Variegated'

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)
 * 'Shaggy' (previously 'Margey Fish')