Austria | 1966 | 1 Schilling | Florin & Fauna | Edelweiss

Florin & Fauna
Edelweiss -  Leontopodium alpinum



  


Edelweiss is a high-altitude mountain flower of the daisy family (Asteraceae), growing on rocky limestone slopes at 1,800–3,000 m in the Alps.

  • Its white woolly hairs protect it from cold, dryness, and strong UV radiation.

  • It is non-toxic and was traditionally used in folk medicine for abdominal and respiratory problems.

  • The name comes from German Edelweiß (“noble white”); the scientific name means “lion’s paw.”

  • First described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, it is now classified as Leontopodium nivale subsp. alpinum.

  • A symbol of the Alps, especially in Austria and Switzerland, it represents purity, rugged beauty, and devoted love.

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