Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum)

Edelweiss

Edelweiss is one of the best-known European mountain flowers, belonging to the sunflower family. The name comes from German edel (meaning noble) and weiss (meaning white). The scientific name, Leontopodium, means "lion's paw" and is derived from the Greek words leon (lion) and podion (diminutive of pous, foot).

Leaves and flowers are covered with white hairs and appear woolly. Flowering stalks of Edelweiss can grow to a size of 3–20 cm. Each bloom consisting of five to six small yellow flower heads (5 mm) surrounded by leaflets in star form. The flowers are in bloom between July and September.

The plant is unequally distributed and prefers rocky limestone places at 2000–2900 m altitude. It is not toxic, and has been used traditionally in folk medicine as a remedy against abdominal and respiratory diseases. The dense hair appears to be an adaptation to high altitudes, protecting the plant from cold, aridity and UV radiation. Since it usually grows in inaccessible places, it is associated in many countries of the alpine region with mountaineering.

Edelweiss is a protected plant in many countries.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leontopodium_alpinum - 13.06.2010

Edelweiss

Also with the Edelweiss the attractive bracts are a compensation for the tiny form of the real blossoms.

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