Leontopodium nivale, commonly callededelweiss (English:/ˈeɪdəlvaɪs/ⓘAY-dəl-vyce;German:Edelweiß[ˈeːdl̩vaɪs]ⓘ orAlpen-Edelweiß), is a mountain flower belonging to the daisy or sunflower familyAsteraceae. The plant prefers rocky limestone places at about 1,800–3,400 metres (5,900–11,200 ft) altitude. It is a non-toxic plant. Its leaves and flowers are covered with dense hairs, which appear to protect the plant from cold, aridity, and ultraviolet radiation.[2] It is a scarce, short-lived flower found in remote mountain areas and has been used as a symbol foralpinism, for rugged beauty and purity associated with the Alps and Carpathians. It is a national symbol of several countries, specificallyBulgaria,[citation needed]Austria,Slovenia,Switzerland, andItaly. InRomania it was declared a "monument of nature" in 1931. The Edelweiss day is celebrated on 5 March. According to folk tradition, giving this flower to a loved one is a promise of dedication.[3]
The flower's common nameEdelweiß isGerman (andEdelwyss orAlpe-Edelwyss inAlemannic German), and is a compound ofedel "noble" andweiß "white". TheSlovene name isplanika, meaning mountain girl. InRomanian, it is known asfloare de colț, which means "cliff flower". The flower is referred to asstella alpina in theItalian-speaking Alps andétoile des Alpes in theFrench Alps, meaning "star of the Alps".[4]
Edelweiß was one of several regional names for the plant and achieved wide usage during the first half of the 19th century in the context of earlyAlpine tourism.[5] Alternative names includeChatzen-Talpen ("cat'spaws") and the olderWullbluomen ("wool flower," attested inEarly New High German in the 16th century).[6][7]
Since 1822,Leontopodium has no longer been considered part of the genusGnaphalium, but classified alongside it as a distinct genus within the tribeGnaphalieae.[citation needed] In 2003,Leontopodium alpinum was re-classified as a subspecies ofLeontopodium nivale.[10] Thus, the alpine edelweiss is currently recognized as being divided into two subspecies,Leontopodium nivale subsp.alpinum(Cass.)Greuter andLeontopodium nivale subsp.nivale.[11]
The plant's leaves and flowers are covered with white hairs, and appear woolly (tomentose). Flowering stalks of edelweiss can grow to a size of 3–20 centimetres (1–8 in) in the wild, or, up to 40 cm (16 in) in cultivation. Each bloom consists of five to six small yellowclustered spikelet-florets (5 mm,3⁄16 in) surrounded by fuzzy white "petals" (technically,bracts) in a double-star formation. The flowers bloom between July and September.
Early-season version with central floret-pods not yet fully developed. Specimen found in Poland'sTatra Mountains.
Typical mid-season appearance. Specimen found in Italy'sBergamo Alps.
Late season version with "fat" appearance from flowered-out central floret-pods and from longer petal-"fuzz".[12] Specimen found in theStubai Alps.[13]
Botanic illustration.
Several edelweiss together with the typical growth form in the Zillertal Alps in South Tyrol.
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Leontopodium nivale is grown in gardens for its interesting inflorescence and silver foliage. It grows in the end of May[16] The plants are short lived and can be grown from seed.[17]
The edelweiss has been used in traditional folk medicine in the Alps for centuries. Extracts from different parts of plants have been used to treat abdominal pain, respiratory diseases, heart disease, and against diarrhea. That is why it was also known as the bellyache flower for a long time. It was also used by the mountain people as a durable flower ("eternal flower") in dry bouquets. The cosmetics industry became aware of the plant and its extracts a few years ago.[20]
No.5,Dianthus silvestris, andGnaphalium leontopodium, (Edelweiss), chromolithograph byHelga von Cramm, with hymn byF. R. Havergal, 1877.Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elisabeth
In the 19th century, the edelweiss became a symbol of the rugged purity of theAlpine region and of its native inhabitants.
The passion for edelweiss, which had previously been neglected, began in the middle of the 19th century. The focus is on an incident from 1856, when theAustrian Emperor Franz Joseph I went on a mountain hike to the Pasterzen Glacier on theGroßglockner with his wifeSisi. There the emperor picked his wife an edelweiss from the steep rock with the words "The first in my life that I picked myself". The affection for edelweiss was a common feature of the famous couple and this well-known story raised people's attention to this alpine plant.[21]
The plant became known as a symbol of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth. A portrait by the painterFranz Xaver Winterhalter painted in 1865 shows Empress Elisabeth with nine artificial edelweiss stars braided in her hair. The jewelry made of precious metal and diamonds was designed in the years after 1850 by the then court and chamber jewelerAlexander Emanuel Köchert.[22]
With the rise of mountain tourism at the end of the 19th century, the edelweiss became the badge and symbol of alpinists and mountaineers. In order to prevent the extinction of the often picked symbolic species, it was placed under nature protection early on. The edelweiss was soon adopted as a symbol in the logo of numerous alpine clubs and associations. In theAustro-Hungarian Army in particular, the symbolic relationship between defiant, frugal and resilient alpine plants, and the required perseverance, agility and cutting edge of the alpine troops was recognized, emphasized, and often promoted by badges and designations. The Alpen-Edelweiss was assigned as a badge by Emperor Franz Joseph to troops (three regiments ofKaiserschützen) of the Austro-Hungarian Army intended for use in the mountains. It was worn on the collar of the uniform skirt.[23]
InBerthold Auerbach's novelEdelweiss (1861), the difficulty for an alpinist to acquire an edelweiss flower was exaggerated to the point of claiming: "the possession of one is a proof of unusual daring."[24] This idea at the time was becoming part of the popular mythology of earlyalpinism.[25] Auerbach's novel appeared in English translation in 1869, prefaced with a quote attributed toRalph Waldo Emerson:
There is a flower known to botanists, one of the same genus with our summer plant called "Life-Everlasting", aGnaphalium like that, which grows on the most inaccessible cliffs of the Tyrolese mountains, where the chamois dare hardly venture, and which the hunter, tempted by its beauty, and by his love (for it is immensely valued by the Swiss maidens), climbs the cliffs to gather, and is sometimes found dead at the foot, with the flower in his hand. It is called by botanists theGnaphalium leontopodium, but by the SwissEdelweisse, which signifiesNoble Purity.
Together with the alpinegentian, the edelweiss is also a symbol of lonely peaks and pure air in the Alps today. These plants are celebrated with songs and many souvenirs related to them are sold.[26][better source needed]
The edelweiss was established in 1907 as the sign of theImperial-Royal Mountain Troops by EmperorFranz Joseph I. These original three Regiments wore their edelweiss on the collar of their uniform. Before 1918 there were also innumerable edelweiss badges in the Habsburg army. These include, for example, the militarymountain guide award (ice ax with edelweiss and winding mountain rope), edelweiss emblems on the collar and cap or badges from alpine patrol companies. Many alpine units, commandos and soldiers proudly wore unofficial edelweiss badges.[27]
The edelweiss also played a role in the troop designation, which also reflected the special relationship with the mountains. In addition to the "Edelweiss Corps" (k.u.k. XIV. Corps) ofArchduke Joseph Ferdinand, an "Edelweiss Division" was formed in the course of the First World War. It essentially consisted ofKaiserjäger of the 3rd and 4th regiments, the Salzburg infantry regiment "Archduke Rainer" No. 59 and the Upper Austrian infantry regiment "Grand Duke of Hesse and the Rhine" No. 14. In 1915,World War I, the edelweiss was granted to the German alpine troops for their bravery.[27] Today, it is still the insignia of the Austrian, French, Slovenian,Polish,Romanian, and German alpine troops.
In theSwiss Army, the highest ranks (brigadier general and higher) have badges in the form of edelweiss flowers, where other military branch badges would have stars.
The edelweiss was a badge of theEdelweiss Pirates, anti-Nazi youth groups in theThird Reich, and was worn on clothes (such as a blouse or a suit).
The edelweiss was the symbol of Wehrmacht and Waffen-SSGebirgsjäger, or mountain rangers 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 brigade in theGerman Army.
The World War II Luftwaffe unitKampfgeschwader 51 (51st Bomber Wing) was known as the Edelweiss Wing.
InAsterix in Switzerland (1970), the plot is driven by a quest to find edelweiss in the Swiss mountains and bring a bloom back to Gaul to cure a poisoned Roman quaestor.
Edelweiss Air, an international airline based in Switzerland, is named after the flower, which also appears in its logo.
The musicianMoondog composed the song "High on a Rocky Ledge", inspired by the Edelweiss flower.
"Bring me Edelweiss" is the best-known song of the music groupEdelweiss.
Polish professional ice hockey teamMMKS Podhale Nowy Targ uses an edelweiss as its emblem.
The song La Belle Fleur Sauvage byLord Huron has lyrics inspired by the tradition of presenting a loved one with an edelweiss.
In the 7th instalment of theDark Parables franchise, theSnow Edelweiss flower is revealed to be the flower associated with the Snow Queen, Snow White, the counterpart to her fraternal twin brother, Prince Ross Red of the FieryRosa flower.
In HBO's 2001 mini seriesBand of Brothers, edelweiss is found on a dead German soldier's uniform. When asked about this,Captain Lewis Nixon replied, "That's edelweiss. It grows in the mountains, above the treeline. Which means he climbed up there to get it. Supposed to be the mark of a true soldier."
In the tactical RPG, Valkyria Chronicles, the team names their tank "The Edelweiss" as a symbol of perseverance against their enemy.
In the Korean dramaCrash Landing on You, Ri Jyeong Hyuk gives Yoon Se-ri a potted edelweiss. He later asks her to meet him "where the edelweiss grows", referring to theJungfrau region where they later meet again.
After Lithuania regained its independence, children of German descent living in Lithuania formed the Edelweiss community, later renamed the Edelweiss-Wolfskinder (Wolf children).[35]
^Edelweiss reported as common name alongsideAlpen-Ruhrkraut in Kittel,Taschenbuch der Flora Deutschlands zum bequemen Gebrauch auf botanischen Excursionen (1837),p. 383.
^Aretius,Stocc-Hornii et Nessi [...] description [...], a Benedicto Are [...] dictate., published withValerii Cordi Simesusii Annotationes in Pedacii Dioscoridis Anazarbei de Medica materia libros V, Basel (1561), ed. Bratschi (1992) inNiesen und Stockhorn. Berg-Besteigungen im 16. Jahrhunder.
^Alexandra Grass "Edelweiß ist Heilpflanze des Jahres 2019 (German: Edelweiss is Medicinal Plant of the Year 2019)" In: Wiener Zeitung 24.01.2019.
^Ernst Moriz Kronfeld, Das Edelweiß, Hugo Heller & Cie., Vienna 1910 - In: Georg Weindl: Die ewige Liebe zum Edelweiß. In: Almanach – 3 Zinnen Dolomiten, Nr. 50, 2019, p 68.
^Michaela Ernst: Sisi-Stern: Das berühmteste Schmuckstück aus Österreich. In: profil. 10. April 2014.
^Hermann Hinterstoisser: Das Edelweiß – Alpenblume mit Symbolkraft. In: Truppendienst, 2012, Nr. 5/329.Das Edelweiß
^"Chamois hunting".New monthly magazine and universal register. 1853. p. 166.
^Justina Schreiber. "Edelweiß und Enzian". BR Bayern 2, 25 December 2011.
^abHermann Hinterstoisser: Das Edelweiß – Alpenblume mit Symbolkraft. In: Truppendienst (Austrian Army), 2012, Nr. 5/329.
^(in Italian) Screm, Alessio (April 6, 2016). "I friulani scelgono il loro inno: è “Stelutis alpinis” di Zardini"[1].Messaggero Veneto. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
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