''Leontopodium'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

plant Plants are predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Historically, the plant kingdom encompassed all living things that were not animals, and included algae and fungi; however, all current definitions of Plantae exclud ...

s in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within the order Asterales. Commonly referred to as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, Compositae w ...

. The genus is native to

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...

and

Asia Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...

. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically,

bract In botany, a bract is a modified or specialized leaf, especially one associated with a reproductive structure such as a flower, inflorescence axis or cone scale. Bracts are usually different from foliage leaves. They may be smaller, larger, or of ...

s) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus name combining

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('lion') and ('foot'). The genus includes the edelweiss ('' L. nivale''), a well-known plant from the mountains of Europe. The term ''edelweiss'' can, more rarely, refer to other members of the genus.

Taxonomy

The following species are currently recognized: * '' Leontopodium albogriseum'' * '' Leontopodium andersonii'' * '' Leontopodium antennarioides'' * '' Leontopodium artemisiifolium'' * '' Leontopodium aurantiacum'' * ''

Leontopodium beerianum ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * '' Leontopodium blagoveshczenskyi'' * ''

Leontopodium brachyactis ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium calocephalum ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium campestre ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium chuii ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium conglobatum ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium coreanum ''Leontopodium coreanum'', also known as Korean edelweiss, is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae The family Asteraceae, alternatively Compositae, consists of over 32,000 known species of flowering plants in over 1,900 genera within ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium dedekensii ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium delavayanum ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium discolor ''Leontopodium discolor'', known as ''Ezo-usuyuki-sō'' or ''Rebun-usuyuki-sō'' in Japan, is a species of flowering plant native to alpine areas of Hokkaidō. Description ''Leontopodium discolor'' is a perennial with white flowers that grows 15 ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium fangingense ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium fauriei ''Leontopodium fauriei'' is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Japan and considered as a rare species by the IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conserva ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium forrestianum ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium franchetii ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium giraldii ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium gracile ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium haastioides ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * '' Leontopodium haplophylloides'' * '' Leontopodium hayachinense'' * '' Leontopodium himalayanum'' * '' Leontopodium jacotianum'' * '' Leontopodium japonicum'' * '' Leontopodium kamtschaticum'' * '' Leontopodium kurilense'' * '' Leontopodium leiolepis'' * '' Leontopodium leontopodinum'' * ''

Leontopodium longifolium ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * '' Leontopodium melanolepis'' * ''

Leontopodium meredithae ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * '' Leontopodium micranthum'' * '' Leontopodium microphyllum'' * '' Leontopodium monocephalum'' * '' Leontopodium muscoides'' * '' Leontopodium nanum'' * ''

Leontopodium nivale ''Leontopodium nivale'', commonly called edelweiss (german: Alpen-Edelweiß, English pronunciation ), is a mountain flower belonging to the daisy or sunflower family Asteraceae. The plant prefers rocky limestone places at about altitude. It is ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium niveum ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * '' Leontopodium ochroleucum'' * '' Leontopodium omeiense'' * '' Leontopodium palibinianum'' * '' Leontopodium pusillum'' * '' Leontopodium roseum'' * ''

Leontopodium rosmarinoides ''Leontopodium'' is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia. The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus nam ...

'' * ''

Leontopodium shinanense ''Leontopodium shinanense'' is a species of plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Japan and considered as a rare species by the IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; officially International Union for Conse ...

'' * '' Leontopodium sinense'' * '' Leontopodium smithianum'' * '' Leontopodium souliei'' * '' Leontopodium stellatum'' * '' Leontopodium stoechas'' * '' Leontopodium stoloniferum'' * '' Leontopodium stracheyi'' * '' Leontopodium subulatum'' * '' Leontopodium villosulum'' * '' Leontopodium villosum'' * '' Leontopodium wilsonii''

In popular culture

'', the edelweiss, has been regarded as a national symbol of Austria, worn as a cap emblem by Austrian troops and displayed on Austrian coins. A song about the plant, written by

Oscar Hammerstein Oscar Hammerstein may refer to: *Oscar Hammerstein I (1846–1919), cigar manufacturer, opera impresario and theatre builder *Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) w ...

, was featured in the musical production ''

The Sound of Music ''The Sound of Music'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, '' The Story of the Trapp Family Singers''. Se ...

''.''Edelweiss'' in "The Sound of Music"
/ref>

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1483297 Alpine flora Asteraceae genera