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LVM Environmental Expert Discovers Large-scale Very Rare Plant Species

JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM) environmental expert, upon checking at least 30-year-old data, has found a large-scale deposit of a very rare and specially protected plant called the great masterwort (Astrantia major) on the Latvian – Lithuanian border. Almost 500 specimens have been counted in the area of about 3.5 ha, but it is estimated that the total area of the deposit could be more than 14 ha.

The great masterwort is a perennial herbaceous plant that can reach a length of 70 cm. Blooms of the great masterwort are whitish or pink, arranged in 3.5–4.5 cm wide clusters.  At night and in the rain, the stems of the bunches bend down, thus protecting the nectar and pollen of the flowers. The plant blooms from early spring to late autumn, but mainly from June to August.

The great masterwort was once grown in parks and gardens, and in many places, it has turned into a wild plant; however, natural deposits in Latvia are extremely rare – only in the south of Zemgale, on the line Tērvete – Ukri. The great masterwort is included in the list of specially protected species and those species for which micro-reserves may be established and included in the Latvian Red Book (under Category 2).

It grows mainly on the banks of rivers in alder forests; in some places, further away from rivers in deciduous and mixed forest areas.