| Leontopodium | |
|---|---|
![]()  | |
| Edelweiss (Leontopodium nivale) | |
| Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae | 
| Clade: | Tracheophytes | 
| Clade: | Angiosperms | 
| Clade: | Eudicots | 
| Clade: | Asterids | 
| Order: | Asterales | 
| Family: | Asteraceae | 
| Subfamily: | Asteroideae | 
| Tribe: | Gnaphalieae | 
| Genus: | Leontopodium (Pers.) R.Br. ex Cass.  | 

Leontopodium is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. The genus is native to Europe and Asia.[1][2] The fuzzy and somewhat stocky "petals" (technically, bracts) could be thought of as somewhat resembling lions' paws—hence the genus name combining Greek léōn ('lion') and pódion ('foot').[3][4][5]
The genus includes the edelweiss (L. nivale),[6][7] a well-known plant from the mountains of Europe. The term edelweiss can, more rarely, refer to other members of the genus.[8]
Taxonomy
The following species are currently recognized:[9]
- Leontopodium albogriseum
 - Leontopodium andersonii
 - Leontopodium antennarioides
 - Leontopodium artemisiifolium
 - Leontopodium aurantiacum
 - Leontopodium beerianum
 - Leontopodium blagoveshczenskyi
 - Leontopodium brachyactis
 - Leontopodium calocephalum
 - Leontopodium campestre
 - Leontopodium chuii
 - Leontopodium conglobatum
 - Leontopodium coreanum
 - Leontopodium dedekensii
 - Leontopodium delavayanum
 - Leontopodium discolor
 - Leontopodium fangingense
 - Leontopodium fauriei
 - Leontopodium forrestianum
 - Leontopodium franchetii
 - Leontopodium giraldii
 - Leontopodium gracile
 - Leontopodium haastioides
 - Leontopodium haplophylloides
 - Leontopodium hayachinense
 - Leontopodium himalayanum
 - Leontopodium jacotianum
 - Leontopodium japonicum
 - Leontopodium kamtschaticum
 - Leontopodium kurilense
 - Leontopodium leiolepis
 - Leontopodium leontopodinum
 - Leontopodium longifolium
 - Leontopodium melanolepis
 - Leontopodium meredithae
 - Leontopodium micranthum
 - Leontopodium microphyllum
 - Leontopodium monocephalum
 - Leontopodium muscoides
 - Leontopodium nanum
 - Leontopodium nivale
 - Leontopodium niveum
 - Leontopodium ochroleucum
 - Leontopodium omeiense
 - Leontopodium palibinianum
 - Leontopodium pusillum
 - Leontopodium roseum
 - Leontopodium rosmarinoides
 - Leontopodium shinanense
 - 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
Leontopodium nivale, the edelweiss, has been regarded as a national symbol of Austria, worn as a cap emblem by Austrian troops and displayed on Austrian coins.[10] A song about the plant, written by Oscar Hammerstein, was featured in the musical production The Sound of Music.[11]
References
Leontopodium.
- ↑ "Leontopodium". Digital Flora of Taiwan.
 - ↑ "Leontopodium". Flora of Pakistan.
 - ↑ λέων, πόδιον, πούς. Liddell, Henry George; Scott, Robert; A Greek–English Lexicon at the Perseus Project
 - ↑ Flora of China Vol. 20-21 Page 778 火绒草属 huo rong cao shu Leontopodium R. Brown ex Cassini, Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris. 1819: 144. 1819.
 - ↑ Altervista Flora Italiana, genere Leontopodium includes photos and range maps
 - ↑ "edelweiss". The Free Dictionary by farlex.
 - ↑ "edelweiss". Encyclopædia Britannica online.
 - ↑ Iza Goroff (July 2004). "Plant of the Month: Leontopodium souliei". Archived from the original on 2008-09-05. Retrieved 2008-06-10.
 - ↑ Flann, C (ed) 2009+ Global Compositae Checklist search for Leontopodium Archived 2014-11-06 at archive.today
 - ↑ Meriam, Ray (1999). Gebirgsjaeger: Germany's Mountain Troops. World War II Arsenal. Vol. 3. Merriam Press. p. 44. ISBN 1576381633.
 - ↑ Edelweiss in "The Sound of Music"
 
