''Astrantia'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...

plants in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Apiaceae Apiaceae () or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus ''Apium,'' and commonly known as the celery, carrot, or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers. It is the 16th-largest family of flowering p ...

, native to Central,

Eastern Eastern or Easterns may refer to: Transportation Airlines *China Eastern Airlines, a current Chinese airline based in Shanghai * Eastern Air, former name of Zambia Skyways *Eastern Air Lines, a defunct American airline that operated from 192 ...

and

Southern Europe Southern Europe is also known as Mediterranean Europe, as its geography is marked by the Mediterranean Sea. Definitions of southern Europe include some or all of these countries and regions: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, C ...

and the

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region spanning Eastern Europe and Western Asia. It is situated between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, comprising parts of Southern Russia, Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The Caucasus Mountains, i ...

. There are several species, which have aromatic roots,

palmate The following terms are used to describe leaf morphology in the description and taxonomy of plants. Leaves may be simple (that is, the leaf blade or 'lamina' is undivided) or compound (that is, the leaf blade is divided into two or more leaflets ...

leaves, and decorative flowers. They are commonly known as great masterwort or masterwort which may also refer to other plants, particularly the unrelated '' Peucedanum ostruthium''.

Etymology

The genus name derived from the Latin '

aster Aster or ASTER may refer to: Biology * ''Aster'' (genus), a genus of flowering plants ** List of ''Aster'' synonyms, other genera formerly included in ''Aster'' and still called asters in English * Aster (cell biology), a cellular structure shap ...

' meaning star and this refers to the open star-shaped floral bracts of the plant.Boris Lariushin

Species

Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online taxonomic database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. History Following the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew launched Plants of the World Online i ...

accepted 10 species, while GRIN Taxonomy listed only five species (marked "G" below). *''

Astrantia bavarica ''Astrantia bavarica'', common name masterwort, is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to Eastern alps. Growing to tall by broad, it is an herbaceous perennial, much used in gardens. Etymology The specific epithet ''ba ...

'' F.W.Schultz *'' Astrantia carniolica'' Wulfen (G) *'' Astrantia colchica'' Albov (G) *''

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 tall by broad, it is an herbaceous perennial, much used in gardens. Etymology The Latin spe ...

'' L. (G) *''

Astrantia maxima ''Astrantia maxima'', (largest masterwort), is a species of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae. Growing to tall by broad, it is an herbaceous perennial, used in gardens. It is hardy to USDA Zone: 4-9. It has gained the Royal Horticultural ...

'' Pall. (G) *''

Astrantia minor ''Astrantia minor'', the lesser masterwort, is a species of herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Apiaceae. It is native within Europe, to the countries of France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. It is clump-forming herbaceous perennial. De ...

'' L. (G) *''

Astrantia ossica ''Astrantia'' is a genus of herbaceous plants in the family Apiaceae, native to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and the Caucasus. There are several species, which have aromatic roots, palmate leaves, and decorative flowers. They are commo ...

'' Woronow ex Grossh. *''

Astrantia pauciflora ''Astrantia'' is a genus of herbaceous plants in the family Apiaceae, native to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and the Caucasus. There are several species, which have aromatic roots, palmate leaves, and decorative flowers. They are commo ...

'' Bertol. *''

Astrantia pontica ''Astrantia'' is a genus of herbaceous plants in the family Apiaceae, native to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and the Caucasus. There are several species, which have aromatic roots, palmate leaves, and decorative flowers. They are commo ...

'' Albov *''

Astrantia trifida ''Astrantia'' is a genus of herbaceous plants in the family Apiaceae, native to Central, Eastern and Southern Europe and the Caucasus. There are several species, which have aromatic roots, palmate leaves, and decorative flowers. They are commo ...

'' Hoffm.

Common names

The astrantia has many common garden names including ''melancholy gentleman'', ''masterwort'' and ''Hattie's pincushion''.

Herbal usage

The stems and

rhizome In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and Shoot (botany), shoots from its Node (botany), nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from ...

s of the Astrantia can be used for medicinal purposes. They provide an essential oil that can be used as a

stomachic Stomachic is a historic term for a medicine that serves to tone the stomach, improving its function and increase appetite. While many herbal remedies claim stomachic effects, modern pharmacology does not have an equivalent term for this type ...

. The dried leaves of the plant can be used in herbal medicines as an infusion to help with digestion and help stimulate appetite.

Cultivation

Many strains of ''Astrantia'' have been selected for their value in the garden, where they grow well if given reasonable soil, some shade and moisture. Their unusual pincushion flowerheads provide summer colour in shades of red, pink and white. ''A. maxima'' 'Largest masterwort' has gained the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr ...

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. It includes the full range of cultivated p ...

. A number of garden varieties have red flowers, e.g. A. carniolica 'Rubra'.

References

Sources

Global Biodiversity Information Facility: Astrantia
{{Taxonbar, from=Q158975 Apiaceae genera Apioideae Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus