Edelweiss
Missing image Leontopodium_alpinum.jpg Edelweiss in Slovenia Edelweiss in Slovenia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Asterales Family: Asteraceae Genus: Leontopodium Species: alpinum
Binomial name
Leontopodium alpinum Linnaeus

Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) is one of the best known European mountain flowers. The name comes from German edel (meaning noble) and weiß (meaning white).

Description

• The flowers can grow to a size of 3 - 20 cm.
• The leaves appear woolly because of the covering of white hairs.
• The flowers are felted and woolly with white hairs, with characteristic bloom consisting of 5 to 6 small yellow flower heads (0.5 cm) surrounded by leaflets in star form.
• The flowers are in bloom between July and September.
• Edelweiss can be found on rocky lawns, limestone rocks, meadows (more rarely), it is unequally distributed and prefers rocky limestone places at 2000 - 2900 m altitude.
• Originating in Asia, Edelweiss can be found on high mountains in Europe, Asia, and South America, in the Pyrenees, Alps and Carpathian Mountains.
• It is not toxic.
• Edelweiss is a protected plant in Switzerland, where it is considered a symbol of purity.

Edelweiss in other contexts

• The song Edelweiss from the musical Sound of Music.

• On the Austrian euro coins, a picture of Edelweiss is used on the two euro cent coins.

• In Austria, Edelweiss is also a brand of beer named after the flower.

• Edelweiss is the national flower of Switzerland.

• Edelweiss Air AG, an international airline based in Switzerland, is named after the flower, which also appears in its logo.

• There is an Austrian band named Edelweiss.

de:Edelweiß fr:Edelweiss es:Edelweiss pl:Szarotka alpejska