Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) is one of the best known European mountain flowers.

Names and etymology

The name comes from Swiss German edel (meaning noble) and weiß (meaning white). The scientific name, Leontopodium means "lion paw", being derived from Greek words leon and podion.

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, and 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 many countries, including Switzerland, Slovenia (since 1898) and Romania (since 1933).

It usually grows in inaccessible places, and that's why, it is associated in Slovenia with mountaineering. Its white colour is considered in Switzerland a symbol of purity and due to its beauty, it got its Romanian name, floarea reginei (Queen's flower).

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.