Leontopodium discolor

Leontopodium discolor, known as Ezo-usuyuki-sō or Rebun-usuyuki-sō in Japan, is a species of Edelweiss native to alpine areas of Hokkaidō.[1]

Leontopodium discolor
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Leontopodium
Species:
L. discolor
Binomial name
Leontopodium discolor

Description

Leontopodium discolor is a perennial with white flowers that grows 15–30 cm in height.[1] It is a hermaphrodite.[2]

Status on Japanese red list

The plant is in the endangered category on the red list of threatened plants of Japan.[3]

Ecology

Leontopodium discolor is found in alpine environments in moist stony soils and scree. Insects pollinate its flowers.[2] The flowers bloom from July to September.[1]

Cultivation

Leontopodium discolor requires full sun. The soil must be moist, well-drained, and gritty. The soil can be alkaline or circumneutral as long as it is not too fertile. The plant is hardy to zone 6. In places with wet winters, it is susceptible to root rot and should be protected with a collar of grit and sheltered from the prevailing winds.[2]

Uses

The young leaves can be eaten when cooked. Plants For A Future assigns an edibility rating of 1.[2]

References
  1. Wild Flowers of Hokkaido (in Japanese) (First ed.). Sapporo: Hokkaido University Press. 1993-04-25. p. 71. ISBN 4-8329-1013-2.
  2. "Leontopodium discolor - Beauverd". Database of Edible, Medicinal, and Useful Plants for a Healthier World. Plants for a Future. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  3. Red List of Threatened Plants of Japan, CSV file, last access 2008-07-23.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.