Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum), one of the best-known European mountain flowers, belongs to the sunflower family (Asteraceae). The name comes from German edel (meaning noble) and weiß (meaning white). The scientific name, Leontopodium means "lion's paw", being derived from Greek words leon (lion) and podion (diminutive of pous, foot).

Flowering stalks of edelweiss can grow to a size of 3–20 cm (in cultivation, up to 40 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 five to six small yellow flower heads (5 mm) surrounded by leaflets in star form. The flowers are in bloom between July and September. It is unequally distributed and prefers rocky limestone places at 2000–2900 m altitude. It is not toxic, and has been used traditionally in folk medicine as a remedy against abdominal and respiratory diseases.

Edelweiss is a protected plant in many countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain (Ordesa National Park), Slovakia (Tatra National Park), Slovenia (in Gorizia and Gradisca since 1896, in Carniola since 1898), Austria (since 1886) and Romania (since 1933).

It usually grows in inaccessible places, which is why it is associated in many countries of the alpine region with mountaineering. Its white colour is considered a symbol of purity, and holds a Latin as well as Greek name, floarea reginei (Queen's flower).

[edit] Symbolic uses

Established 1907 by the Austrian-Hungarian Army for their alpine troops, the sign was used in WWII by the Wehrmacht Gebirgsjäger—here as Edelweiss cap badge.

• On the Austrian euro coins, a picture of Edelweiss is used on the two-euro-cent coins.
• It is the symbol of the ["Bulgarian Tourist Union"](Balgarski Turisticheski Saiuz,Български туристически съюз(БТС))Bulgarian Tourist Union
• On the Romanian 50 Lei banknote.
• Edelweiss Society
• In Austria, Edelweiß is also a brand of beer named after the flower.
• Edelweiss is the unofficial national flower of Switzerland.
• It appears in the logos of both the German and Austrian alpine societies.
• In its bid for the 2014 Winter Olympics the city of Salzburg uses an Edelweiss flower as the emblem.[1]
• Edelweiss Air, an international airline based in Switzerland, is named after the flower, which also appears in its logo.
• The song "Edelweiss", which is about the flower, is from the 1959 musical The Sound of Music, which takes place in Austria.
• "Bring me Edelweiss" is the best-known song of the music group Edelweiss.
• The Edelweiss was established 1907 as the sign of the Austrian-Hungarian alpine troops by Emperor Franz Joseph I. These original 3 Regiments wore their edelweiss on the collar of their uniform. During World War I (1915) the Edelweiss was granted to the German alpine troops, for their bravery. Today it is still the insignia of the Austrian, Polish, and German alpine troops.
• Edelweiss was a badge of Edelweiss Pirates (Edelweisspiraten)—the anti-Nazi youth groups in Third Reich. It was worn on the clothes (e.g. a blouse or a suit).
• The Edelweiss flower was the symbol of Wehrmacht and Waffen-SS Gebirgsjäger, or mountain infantry, worn as a metal pin on the left side of the mountain cap, on the band of the service dress cap, and as a patch on the right sleeve. It is still the symbol of the Mountain division in the German army today.
• The rank insignia of Swiss generals has Edelweiss signs instead of stars. A Korpskommandant for example (equivalent to a Lieutenant General in other countries) wears three Edelweiss signs on his collar instead of three stars.
• This flower appears prominently in the comic book adventure Asterix in Switzerland where the protagonists attempt to procure an Edelweiss for its use in an antidote.
• Edelweiss (or simply Edel) is an increasingly popular female name in the United States.
• In the 2008 Playstation 3 game, Valkyria Chronicles, Welkin Gunther's tank is named the Edelweiss. The game also makes frequent references to the flower, referring to it as the lion's paw.
• An episode of the 1950s TV series Adventures of Superman titled "The Wedding of Superman" includes a segment in which Superman flies to Switzerland to bring a small bouquet of edelweiss to Lois Lane (