Astrantia

{{short description|Genus of flowering plants in the celery family}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Astrantia.jpg |image_caption = ''Astrantia major'' |display_parents = 2 |taxon = Astrantia |authority = L.<ref name=POWO_39706-1/> |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = See text. |synonyms = {{Genus list |Etoxoe|Raf. |Transcaucasia|M.Hiroe }} |synonyms_ref = <ref name=POWO_39706-1/> }}

'''''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 commonly known as great masterwort or masterwort which may also refer to other plants, particularly the unrelated ''Peucedanum ostruthium''.

==Etymology== thumb The genus name derived from the Latin 'aster' meaning star and this refers to the open star-shaped floral bracts of the plant.<ref name=Boris>Boris Lariushin {{Google books|lqL8AwAAQBAJ|Apiaceae Family: Volume 2|page=25}}</ref>

== Species == {{As of|2022|December}}, Plants of the World Online accepted 10 species,<ref name=POWO_39706-1>{{cite web |title=''Astrantia'' L. |url=https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:39706-1 |website=Plants of the World Online |access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref> while GRIN Taxonomy listed only five species (marked "G" below).<ref>{{cite web |title=Species of ''Astrantia'' L.. |work=GRIN Taxonomy |publisher=National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland |url=https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomyspecieslist?id=1096&type=genus |access-date=16 December 2022}}</ref> *''Astrantia bavarica'' F.W.Schultz *''Astrantia carniolica'' Wulfen (G) *''Astrantia colchica'' Albov (G) *''Astrantia major'' L. (G) *''Astrantia maxima'' Pall. (G) *''Astrantia minor'' L. (G) *''Astrantia ossica'' Woronow ex Grossh. *''Astrantia pauciflora'' Bertol. *''Astrantia pontica'' Albov *''Astrantia trifida'' Hoffm.

==Common names== The astrantia has many common garden names including ''melancholy gentleman'', ''masterwort'' and ''Hattie's pincushion''.<ref>{{cite web|first=Carol |last=Klein|date=15 May 2004|title=How to grow: Astrantia 'Shaggy'|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3319801/How-to-grow-Astrantia-Shaggy.html#source=refresh|publisher=telegraph.co.uk|accessdate=9 June 2014}}</ref><ref>Margery Fish {{google books|Cottage Garden Flowers|1R2_CAAAQBAJ|page=46}}</ref>

==Herbal usage== The stems and rhizomes of the Astrantia can be used for medicinal purposes. They provide an essential oil that can be used as a stomachic. The dried leaves of the plant can be used in herbal medicines as an infusion to help with digestion and help stimulate appetite.<ref>Panda, H. {{Google books|VRKmAwAAQBAJ|Handbook on Medicinal Herbs with Uses|page=163}} </ref>

== 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's Award of Garden Merit.<ref name=Boris/><ref>{{cite web |title=Astrantia maxima |url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=213 |publisher=rhs.org.uk}}</ref>

thumb|right|''Rubra'' variety A number of garden varieties have red flowers, e.g. A. carniolica 'Rubra'.<ref>{{cite web|year=2014 |title=Astrantia carniolica 'Rubra' |url=http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/198222/Astrantia-carniolica-Rubra/Details| publisher=rhs.org.uk|accessdate=9 June 2014}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== Sources == * [https://archive.today/20130414192815/http://secretariat.mirror.gbif.org/species/browse/resource/1496/taxon/6832393/ Global Biodiversity Information Facility: Astrantia]

Category:Apiaceae genera Category:Apioideae Category:Botanical taxa named by Carl Linnaeus