Leontopodium


Leontopodium is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus name combining Greek léōn and pódion.
The genus includes the edelweiss, a well-known plant from the mountains of Europe. The term edelweiss can, more rarely, refer to other members of the genus.

Taxonomy

The following species are currently recognized:Leontopodium albogriseumLeontopodium andersoniiLeontopodium antennarioides Leontopodium artemisiifoliumLeontopodium aurantiacumLeontopodium beerianum Leontopodium blagoveshczenskyi Leontopodium brachyactisLeontopodium calocephalumLeontopodium campestreLeontopodium chuiiLeontopodium conglobatumLeontopodium coreanumLeontopodium dedekensiiLeontopodium delavayanumLeontopodium discolorLeontopodium fangingenseLeontopodium faurieiLeontopodium forrestianumLeontopodium franchetiiLeontopodium giraldiiLeontopodium gracile Leontopodium haastioidesLeontopodium haplophylloidesLeontopodium hayachinenseLeontopodium himalayanumLeontopodium jacotianumLeontopodium japonicumLeontopodium kamtschaticum Leontopodium kurilenseLeontopodium leiolepisLeontopodium leontopodinumLeontopodium longifoliumLeontopodium melanolepis Leontopodium meredithae Leontopodium micranthumLeontopodium microphyllumLeontopodium monocephalumLeontopodium muscoidesLeontopodium nanumLeontopodium nivaleLeontopodium niveumLeontopodium ochroleucumLeontopodium omeienseLeontopodium palibinianumLeontopodium pusillumLeontopodium roseumLeontopodium rosmarinoidesLeontopodium shinanenseLeontopodium sinenseLeontopodium smithianumLeontopodium soulieiLeontopodium stellatum Leontopodium stoechasLeontopodium stoloniferumLeontopodium stracheyiLeontopodium subulatumLeontopodium villosulum Leontopodium villosum

In popular culture

Leontopodium nivale, the edelweiss, has been regarded as a national symbol of Austria, worn as a cap emblem by Austrian troops and displayed on Austrian coins. A song about the plant, written by Oscar [Hammerstein II|Oscar Hammerstein], was featured in the musical production Sound of [Music (film)|The Sound of Music].