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Edelweiss

Edelweiss

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Asterales
Family: Asteraceae
Genus: Leontopodium
Species: alpinum
Binomial name
Leontopodium alpinum
Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) is one of the best known European mountain flowers. The name comes from German edel (meaning noble) and weiß (meaning white).

Description


The famous song from The Sound of Music was named after this flower; the great popularity of the song led to the mistaken belief that it is the national anthem of Austria (much like the popular song "Waltzing Matilda" is widely incorrectly believed to be the national anthem of Australia).

On the Austrian euro coins, a picture of Edelweiss is used on the two euro cent coins. In Austria, Edelweiss is also a brand of beer named after the flower.

The edelweiss is the national flower of Switzerland. Edelweiss Air AG, an international airline based in switzerland, is named after the flower, which also appears in its logo.

There is an Austrian band named Edelweiss.