Leontopodium nivale

Leontopodium nivale, commonly called edelweiss (English pronunciation /ˈeɪdəlvaɪs/ (About this
soundlisten)), is a mountain flower belonging to the daisy or sunflower family Asteraceae. The plant
prefers rocky limestone places at about 1,800–3,000 metres (5,900–9,800 ft) altitude. It is non-toxic
and has been used in traditional medicine as a remedy against abdominal and respiratory diseases.
The dense hair appears to protect the plant from cold, aridity, and ultraviolet radiation.[1] It is a
scarce, short-lived flower found in remote mountain areas and has been used as a symbol for
alpinism, for rugged beauty and purity associated with the Alps and Carpathians, and as a national
symbol, especially of Romania, Austria, Bulgaria, Slovenia, and Switzerland. According to folk
tradition, giving this flower to a loved one is a promise of dedication.

The flower's common name derives from the German word "Edelweiß", which is a compound of edel
"noble" and weiß "white". In Romania it is known as Floare de colț which means Cliffhanger's flower.
In the Italian speaking Alps the flower is referred as "Stella Alpina", while in the French Alps as "Étoile
des Alpes", both names meaning "Star of the Alps".[2]

Edelweiß was one of several regional names for the plant and entered wide usage during the first
half of the 19th century, in the context of early Alpine tourism.[3] Alternative names include
Chatzen-Talpen ("cat's paws"), and the older Wullbluomen ("wool flower", attested in the 16th
century).[4][5]

The scientific name is a latinisation of the Greek leontopódion, "lion's paw".[6]

Taxonomy

Since 1822, Leontopodium has no longer been considered part of the genus Gnaphalium, but
classified alongside it as a distinct genus within the tribe Gnaphalieae.[citation needed] In 2003,
Leontopodium alpinum was re-classified as a subspecies of Leontopodium nivale.[citation needed]
Thus, the alpine edelweiss is currently recognized as being divided into two subspecies,
Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum (Cass.) Greuter and Leontopodium nivale subsp. nivale.[7]

Description

The plant's leaves and flowers are covered with white hairs, and appear woolly (tomentose).
Flowering stalks of edelweiss can grow to a size of 3–20 centimetres (1–8 in) in the wild, or, up to 40
cm (16 in) in cultivation. Each bloom consists of five to six small yellow clustered spikelet-florets (5
mm, 3⁄16 in) surrounded by fuzzy white "petals" (technically, bracts) in a double-star formation. The
flowers bloom between July and September.