Leontopodium

Leontopodium is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae (which also includes daisies and sunflowers). The genus is native to Europe and Asia.[1][2] The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus name combining léōn (lion) and pódion (foot).[3][4][5]

Leontopodium
Edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Subfamily: Asteroideae
Supertribe: Asterodae
Tribe: Gnaphalieae
Genus: Leontopodium
(Pers.) R.Br. ex Cass.
L. shinanense

The genus includes the edelweiss (L. nivale[6][7]), a well-known plant from the mountains of Europe. The term edelweiss can, more rarely, refer to other members of the genus.[8]

Taxonomy

The following species are currently recognized:[9]

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.[10] A song about the plant, written by Oscar Hammerstein, was featured in the musical production The Sound of Music.[11]

References
  1. "Leontopodium". Digital Flora of Taiwan.
  2. "Leontopodium". Flora of Pakistan.
  3. λέων, πόδιον, πούς. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
  4. Flora of China Vol. 20-21 Page 778 火绒草属 huo rong cao shu Leontopodium R. Brown ex Cassini, Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris. 1819: 144. 1819.
  5. Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Leontopodium includes photos and range maps
  6. "edelweiss". The Free Dictionary by farlex.
  7. "edelweiss". Encyclopædia Britannica online.
  8. Iza Goroff (July 2004). "Plant of the Month: Leontopodium souliei". Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
  9. Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist search for Leontopodium Archived 2014-11-06 at Archive.today
  10. Meriam, Ray (1999). Gebirgsjaeger: Germany's Mountain Troops. World War II Arsenal. 3. Merriam Press. p. 44. ISBN 1576381633.
  11. Edelweiss in "The Sound of Music"
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