Image of Astrantia major ssp. major

Description:

Slo.: veliki zali klobuek - syn.: Astrantia major var. major - Habitat: Riparian forest, Salix eleagnos, Picea abies, Pinus mugo, Lonicera xylosteum, Juniperus communis dominant; flat terrain; alluvial, calcareous ground; humid place, mostly in shade; elevation 950 m (3.100 feet); average precipitations ~ 2.400 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: soil. Comment: Astrantia major ssp. major is the largest, most colorful and hence the nicest of all four taxa of this genus growing in Slovenia. The plants have unusually structured inflorescences. They belong to Apiaceae (Umbelliferae) family hence their flowers aggregate in terminal umbels. The large star-like 'petals' are actually colored leaves - involucre, a whorl of bracts subtending flower clusters. The flowers are many, tiny and look like stamens from far, however they are complete - have calyx, corolla, stamens and pistil. Astrantia major ssp. major is a good plant for taking pictures of insects. Its flowers are very commonly visited by all sorts of insects. Since there are many flowers in each inflorescence, so it takes time to check all of them for honey, consequently there is a lot of time and opportunities to take pictures. Ref.: (1) A. Martini et all., Mala Flora Slovenije (Flora of Slovenia - Key) (in Slovenian), Tehnina Zaloba Slovenije (2007), p 388. (2) M.A. Fischer, W. Adler, K. Oswald, Exkursionsflora fr sterreich, Liechtenstein und Sdtirol, LO Landesmuseen, Linz, Austria (2005), p 823. (3) D. Aeschimann, K. Lauber, D.M. Moser, J.P. Theurillat, Flora Alpina, Vol. 1., Haupt (2004), p 1072. (4) K. Lauber and G. Wagner, Flora Helvetica, 5. Auflage, Haupt (2012), p 950. Sony ILCE6000 / Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar E 16-70 mm/f4