Astrantia major L. (C and E-Eur.) – A rare and decreasing escape from cultivation. Formerly more or less locally naturalized. Already recorded as an escape in 1812 (Durand 1899). Sometimes rather persistent or naturalized for some time, for instance between Fraipont and Trooz (1856-1863), on an old cemetery in Assenois (in the 1940’s) or in rather remote woodland in the valley of river Amblève near Stoumont (Champluvier & Germeau 2013). Duvigneaud (1973) reported about a small population in Gedinne and provided an overview of Belgian records of Astrantia major. At present it is also known from an old railway track near Zonhoven (in nature reserve De Teut), where it grows among other unusual aliens like Digitalis lutea, Tanacetum macrophyllum and Thalictrum aquilegiifolium. Astrantia major is often found in nature-like habitats in Belgium (wood margins, tracks in woodland, montane woods, etc.). However, it is not (yet) considered invasive species.
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Selected literature:
Champluvier D. & Germeau N. (2013) La grande astrance (Astrantia major, Apiaceae), naturalisée en Ardenne en bord d’Amblève à Cheneux (Stoumont). Adoxa 78: 7-8.
Durand T. (1899) Phanérogames. In: De Wildeman E. & Durand T., Prodrome de la flore belge. A. Castaigne Editeur, Bruxelles: 1112 p.
Duvigneaud J. (1973) Astrantia major en Belgique. Nat. Mosana 26(4): 121-123.
Hiller K. (1971) Chemosystematics of the Saniculoideae. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 64 Suppl. 1. 369-384.
Wörz A. (2001) On the intraspecific classification of Astrantia major L. (Apiaceae - Saniculoideae). Bot. Jahrb. 123(3): 303-319.