Great masterwort

About

Astrantia major is a plant of the mountains of Central and Southern Europe: the Pyrenees, Carpathians, Balkans, as well as the Caucasus. It grows in wet forests, on forest edges, mountain meadows, and along riverbanks, especially in subalpine areas. It is also found in the Ukrainian Carpathians.

The plant typically reaches about 60 cm in height, sometimes up to 90 cm. The basal leaves have long petioles of 10–20 cm, palmately divided into three to seven toothed lobes. The most notable feature of Astrantia major is its inflorescence: each "flower" is actually a small umbrella made up of many tiny greenish-white flowers with a reddish tint, surrounded by a "collar" of sharp paper-like bracts, white or pink with green tips. Therefore, up close, it resembles a star. It blooms in summer: in the Carpathians, flowering Astrantia is mainly photographed from June to August.

Astrantia major is widely cultivated in gardens as a decorative perennial plant. It belongs to the Apiaceae family, like carrots or dill, although it looks nothing like them.

Interestingly, Astrantia major was once included in the Red Book of Ukraine, but it was excluded in the 2009 edition, and it is not present in the current list of 2021. However, in nature reserves and protected areas of national parks, picking plants is prohibited. Enjoy and photograph it in the meadow: cut inflorescences wilt quickly.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Slovakia · Czechia · Ukraine · Poland · Romania · Hungary

Mountain ranges

Greater Fatra, Lesser Fatra, Low Tatras, Strážov Mountains, White Carpathians, Slovak Paradise, Belianske Tatras, Kysuce Beskids, Slovak Ore Mountains, Western Tatras

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m) · Conifer forests (1200–1600 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Protection and rules

Excluded from the Red Book of Ukraine in 2009; not present in the current list of 2021. Picking plants is prohibited in nature reserves and protected areas of national parks.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ