DESCRIPTION

Herbaceous plant 5 to 15 cm high with a very woolly stem. Thin alternating cauline leaves covered with dense hairs. Several flower heads 4 to 8 mm in diameter forming at the end of the stem a small inflorescence, surrounded by felted white bracts. Inside the capitula, solitary tubular male flowers, and, at the edge, solitary, filiform female flowers.

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HISTORY

Native to Siberia, this plant immigrated to Europe during the ice ages. It is now found atop the high mountains: Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, Balkan Peninsula. In the French-speaking world, it is also known as lion's foot, lion's paw, silver star, glacier star, starry cotton, queen of the glaciers, immortelle des neiges. The name Edelweiss (edel: noble and weiss: white) is Swiss German and dates back to 1784. It was adopted in other languages during the 19th century. All legends and songs related to Edelweiss date back only the last centuries.

• Edelweiss has become the symbol of the protection of nature.

• the female name Edel meets sometimes. It is a diminutive of edelweiss. If Edel Mary Quinn (an Irish Catholic) is canonized one day, we can pray to St. Edel. Who does not know the edelweiss song that was popularized by the movie The melody of happiness.

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HABITAT

Rare in the northern and southern limestone Alps, very rare in the Central Alps; cracks in rocks and lawns; on stony, stony soils; up to over 2500 m altitude.

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PARTICULARITIES

The silver hair of Edelweiss reflects sunlight and protects it from drying out. It is one of the most famous mountain plants, partly because of its rarity.

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THREAT

This flower is protected, do not pick it !

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