Leontopodium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| 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]
