Astrantia minor
Encyclopedia
Astrantia minor is a species of herbaceous plant
belonging to the family
of Apiaceae
.
are of two types, often on the same plant: one with narrow segments that are all pinnatisect
, the other with broad segments, the central being pinnatisect and the lateral being deeply pinnatipartite
; petiole
s 4-12 cm; the leaf blade with (5) 7 (8) segments of 1-3 (4.5) x 0.5 -1.3 cm, pale green, toothed in upper half or two thirds, the stem at the base of the inflorescence
, from 2 to 3.2 x 0.2-0.5 cm reduced to 3-5 segments. Inflorescence with 1-3 peduncles
unequal, the central, sometimes branched, and longer than the sides that have unique umbel
s; Umbels surrounded by (10) 12-14 bracts , 4-10 x 1-3 mm, membranous, entire, the apex green with three ribs. The flowers are 30-40 per umbel, of the same length or slightly shorter than the bracts, generally hermaphroditic in the centre and male peripherally. Calices have teeth about 1 mm in size, ovate-oblong, subobtuse
and slightly bearded
(1.5-2 times longer than wide). Petals are similar in size to the sepals and white or cream. Stamens exserted. Fruit
ovoid (1.5) 2-5 mm with scales in the form of a vesicle
, subobtuse.
It differs from its congener Astrantia major
, by its smaller size, and basal leaves of seven segments (instead of five) with calyx teeth that are obtuse and slightly mucronate
.
), on fresh alpine and subalpine soil. It prefers a pure silicaceous substrate, at elevations of (1850) 2100 - 2300 (2600) meters. Flowering occurs from July to August and fruiting in August-September.
it is found only in the Pyrenees
, the Catalan lands and Huesca where it is found in the extreme southwest Valle de Benasque.
Herbaceous plant
A herbaceous plant is a plant that has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level. They have no persistent woody stem above ground...
belonging to the family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
of Apiaceae
Apiaceae
The Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants...
.
Description
A. minor is a flowering plant that often reaches 15-30 cm in height, with simple stems, rarely branched in the upper half, the basal leavesLeaves
-History:Vocalist Arnar Gudjonsson was formerly the guitarist with Mower, and he was joined by Hallur Hallsson , Arnar Ólafsson , Bjarni Grímsson , and Andri Ásgrímsson . Late in 2001 they played with Emiliana Torrini and drew early praise from the New York Times...
are of two types, often on the same plant: one with narrow segments that are all pinnatisect
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
, the other with broad segments, the central being pinnatisect and the lateral being deeply pinnatipartite
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
; petiole
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
s 4-12 cm; the leaf blade with (5) 7 (8) segments of 1-3 (4.5) x 0.5 -1.3 cm, pale green, toothed in upper half or two thirds, the stem at the base of the inflorescence
Inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Strictly, it is the part of the shoot of seed plants where flowers are formed and which is accordingly modified...
, from 2 to 3.2 x 0.2-0.5 cm reduced to 3-5 segments. Inflorescence with 1-3 peduncles
Peduncle (botany)
In botany, a peduncle is a stem supporting an inflorescence, or after fecundation, an infructescence.The peduncle is a stem, usually green and without leaves, though sometimes colored or supporting small leaves...
unequal, the central, sometimes branched, and longer than the sides that have unique umbel
Umbel
An umbel is an inflorescence which consists of a number of short flower stalks which are equal in length and spread from a common point, somewhat like umbrella ribs....
s; Umbels surrounded by (10) 12-14 bracts , 4-10 x 1-3 mm, membranous, entire, the apex green with three ribs. The flowers are 30-40 per umbel, of the same length or slightly shorter than the bracts, generally hermaphroditic in the centre and male peripherally. Calices have teeth about 1 mm in size, ovate-oblong, subobtuse
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
and slightly bearded
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
(1.5-2 times longer than wide). Petals are similar in size to the sepals and white or cream. Stamens exserted. Fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
ovoid (1.5) 2-5 mm with scales in the form of a vesicle
Vesicle (biology)
A vesicle is a bubble of liquid within another liquid, a supramolecular assembly made up of many different molecules. More technically, a vesicle is a small membrane-enclosed sack that can store or transport substances. Vesicles can form naturally because of the properties of lipid membranes , or...
, subobtuse.
It differs from its congener Astrantia major
Astrantia major
Astrantia major, common name Great Masterwort, is an herbaceous, perennial plant with a rhizome, belonging to the family Apiaceae.-Etymology:...
, by its smaller size, and basal leaves of seven segments (instead of five) with calyx teeth that are obtuse and slightly mucronate
Leaf shape
In botany, leaf shape is characterised with the following terms :* Acicular : Slender and pointed, needle-like* Acuminate : Tapering to a long point...
.
Habitat
Found in some clumps of large plants near streams and in clearings in the scrubland of mountain azalea (Rhododendron ferrugineumRhododendron ferrugineum
Rhododendron ferrugineum is an evergreen shrub that grows just above the tree line in the Alps, Pyrenees, Jura and northern Apennines, on acid soils. It may grow up to 1 m tall and produces clusters of pinkish-red, bell-shaped flowers throughout the summer...
), on fresh alpine and subalpine soil. It prefers a pure silicaceous substrate, at elevations of (1850) 2100 - 2300 (2600) meters. Flowering occurs from July to August and fruiting in August-September.
Distribution
Endemic to central and southern Europe (France , Switzerland , Italy and Spain). In the Iberian PeninsulaIberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
it is found only in the Pyrenees
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, the Catalan lands and Huesca where it is found in the extreme southwest Valle de Benasque.
Taxonomy
Synonyms:- Astrantia alpina Clairv. [1811, Man. Herbor. : 78]
- Astrantia major subsp. minor (L.) BonnierBonnierBonnier is a privately held Swedish media group of 175 companies operating in 17 countries. It is controlled by the Bonnier family....
& Layens [1894, Fl. Fr. : 135] - Astrantia helleborifolia Salisb. [1796, Prodr. : 159] [nom. illeg.]
- Astrantia digitata MoenchConrad MoenchConrad Moench was a German botanist, sometimes written Konrad Mönch, was Professor of Botany at the Marburg University from 1786 until his death....