Astrantia major L. ssp. major; syn.: Astrantia major var. majorGreat Masterwort, Mountain Sanicle, DE: Gewhnliche-Gro-Sterndolde, Grosse SterndoldeSlo.: veliki zali klobuekDat.: July 10. 2017Lat.: 46.41489 Long.: 13.56007Code: Bot_1074/2017_DSC02405Habitat: 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.Place: South shores of Rajbelje lake (Lago di Predil), Jezernica valley (Val Rio del Lago), border region between East and West Julian Alps, Friuli, Italy EC.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.
The rare and restricted endemic
Lomatium latilobum just barely starting to flower at the base of
Quercus welshii (syn.
Quercus havardii var.
tuckeri; see the dried leaves also which are a match for the concept of
Q. welshii which was named in 2003 but has not yet gained full acceptance by taxonomists).The whitish persistent prior year leaf stalks and bases (visible here mainly at left) are characteristic of this unique
Lomatium. It usually has mostly entire, glabrous leaves.Older plants can grow into wider clumps than shown here. Smaller plants can be confused with
Aletes macdougalii (syn.
Cymopterus macdougalii) which has an overlapping distribution. It is also sometimes confused with
Lomatium parryi which also grows in the same area but which has reddish stems, is smaller in stature, and has very different leaves (smaller/narrower) and different in other respects. Grows often at the bases of cliffs and in rock crevices (hence another common name, Slickrock biscuitroot) as well in nearby sandy soils derived usually from Entrada sandstone.The common name refers to the general area in which it is found, but should not be assumed to mean "Canyonlands National Park" where it has not yet been found. It is a Navajo Basin endemic that has only been found in a small area in the general vicinity of Moab with a primary distribution in south-central Grand County, Utah and just barely over the border into San Juan County, and also in adjoining Mesa County, Colorado. Currently ranked by the Utah Native Plant Society rare plant committee as "High" in terms of conservation priority/concern. See:
www.utahrareplants.org/rpg_species.htmlApril 13, 2013, Arches National Park, Grand County, Utah, elev. 5,245 ft.