User:DavidAnstiss/Astrantia colchica

Astrantia colchica ('Colchic Masterwort') is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. It has long reddish (or white) flowers.

Description
It is very similar in form to Astrantia major

3.5 - 5.5 cm long 6–10 mm long pedicel,

Colchic Masterwort Taxonomic Notes:	Astrantia colchica Albov is closely related with A. trifida Hoffm. Astrantia colchica is known from no more than five locations in Georgia, where its total extent of occurrence (EOO) is estimated to be c. 2,600 km2 (area within a minimum convex polygon (MCP) around all known sites of occurrence) and area of occupancy (AOO) is estimated to be c. 80 km2 (AOO estimate from a 2x2 km grid overlay). Its meadow habitat is declining because of overgrazing (by farm animals), which is likely to continue. Therefore, the species is listed as Endangered. A. colchica is endemic to Georgia, the Caucasus Biodiversity Hotspot, distributed in Abkhazeti (Mt. Aibga on the Gagra range), Samegrelo (Mts. Okhachkue, Kvira, Dzhvari, Migaria, Chegvala, Askhi on the Egrisi range), and Lechkhumi (Khvamli massif) floristic regions. Countries occurrence: Native: Georgia Additional data: Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) - km2:	80 Number of Locations:	5 Lower elevation limit (metres):	2000 Upper elevation limit (metres):	3000 It grows on meadows formed on calcareous ecotopes, in subalpine and alpine zones, between 2,000-3,000 m asl. The major threat is habitat loss and degradation caused by overgrazing.

It has a chromosome count of 2n=14.

Taxonomy
The specific epithet colchica, referring to Colchis, an ancient kingdom and region on the coast of the Black Sea centred in present-day western Georgia.

Plant specimens of A. colchica were found in Mingrelia, Georgia in 1894 by the Russian botanist Nikolai Albov, he then originally described and published the plant, in 'Prodr. Fl. Colchic.' on page 100 in 1895. It was also published in Bull. Herb. Boiss. iii. on page 519 in 1895.

It was verified by United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service on 23 March 2007.

Distribution and habitat
It is native to the Transcaucasus mountains between Europe and Asia.

Range
Transcaucasus. Georgia

Other sources

 * Czerepanov, S. K. 1995. Vascular plants of Russia and adjacent states (the former USSR) Cambridge University Press.
 * Komarov, V. L. et al., eds. 1934-1964. Flora SSSR.