edelweiss

thumb|an edelweiss in an early state of development inside of a plant pot (note the white velvet like hair hasn't yet fully grown upon its leaves yet) Leontopodium nivale, commonly called edelweiss () ( ; or ), is a mountain flower belonging to the daisy or sunflower family Asteraceae. The plant prefers rocky limestone places at about 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. The filamentary wool (tomentum) has sub-micrometer internal structure that contributes to scattering and absorption of near-ultraviolet radiation, which is interpreted as an adaptive trait for high-altitude UV exposure. It is a scarce, short-lived flower found in remote mountain areas and has been used as a symbol for alpinism, for rugged beauty and purity associated with the Alps and Carpathians. It is a national symbol of several countries, specifically Bulgaria, Austria, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Italy. In Romania it was declared a "monument of nature" in 1931. Edelweiss Day is celebrated on the 5th of March. According to folk tradition, giving this flower to a loved one is a promise of dedication.

==Names== The flower's common name is German (and or in Alemannic German), and is a compound of "noble" and "white". The Slovene name is , meaning mountain girl. In Romanian, it is known as , which means "cliff flower". The flower is referred to as in the Italian-speaking Alps and in the French Alps, meaning "star of the Alps".