Hunting at Roadside IV #16

Masterwort (Astrantias, also known as Hattie's pincushion) are charming perennials with branched heads of neat pincushion flowers, surrounded by a ruff of greenish white bracts in summer.

Masterwort is not edible. It is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth. It can cause the skin to burn more easily in the sun. Wear protective clothing and sunblock outside, especially if you are light-skinned. Also, there are some chemicals in masterwort can cause cancer.

However, people use Masterwort to make medicine. Despite safety concerns, people take masterwort for relief of muscle cramps, stomach disorders, digestive problems, diarrhea, and swelling of the tissue that lines the stomach and intestines.