ASTRANTIA

(Lat.), n. f.?n(tra$n)’shi?(ti?)-a3, From äozpov, a star. Fr., as trance. Ger., Astrantie, Sterndolde, Meisterwurz. A genus of umbelliferous herbs of the tribe Saniculee, established by Linnæus. [B, 121.])—A. candida [Miller]. See A. major.—A. diapensia [Scopoli]. The Sanicula europa. 180.]—A. epipactis [Linnæus). A species supposed to be émmaxtis of Dioscorides. [L, 105.|—A. majer |Linnaus]. otruche noire, sanicle femelle (ou de montagne). Ger., gro e Astrantie, schwarze (odor falsche) Meisterwurz. The black sanicle, black masterwort; a species growing in the mountalnous districts ot central Europe. The rhizome (radix as trant iæ major is, radix imperator iæ nigræ) is brownish-black, or, when dried, completely black, beset with numerous slender branching fibrils, and devoid of odor, but of an acrid, bitter taste. It has been used as a purgative, and is sometimes mixed with or substituted for black hellebore root. [B, 173, 180; L, 80.]—A. minor. Ger., kleine Astrantie. An herbaceous plant indigenous to Switzerland. (B, 71.|—A. nigra [Scopoli], A. nigra major, A. vulgar is. See 4. major.— Radix as trant iæ. The rhizome of Imperator i a ostruthium. [B, 180.|—Radix as trant iæ major is. e rhizome of A. major. d Fr., {B, 180.]