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Leontopodium alpinum


Leontopodium alpinum
Photo Information
Copyright: TOMESCU Cezar Valentin (tomcezar) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 195 W: 0 N: 258] (1631)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-06-18
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Canon 350 D, Canon ZOOM LENS EF-S 18-55mm 1:3.5-5,6II
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/80 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-08-07 0:44
Viewed: 1075
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Leontopodium alpinum

Kingdom: Plantae

Division: Magnoliophyta

Class: Magnoliopsida

Order: Asterales

Family: Asteraceae

Tribe: Gnaphalieae[1]

Genus: Leontopodium

Species: L. alpinum



Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum), one of the best-known European mountain flowers, belongs to the sunflower family (Asteraceae). The name comes from German edel (meaning noble) and weiß (meaning white). The scientific name, Leontopodium means "lion's paw", being derived from Greek words leon (lion) and podion (diminutive of pous, foot).

Flowering stalks of edelweiss can grow to a size of 3–20 cm (in cultivation, up to 40 cm). The leaves appear woolly because of the covering of white hairs. The flowers are felted and woolly with white hairs, with characteristic bloom consisting of five to six small yellow flower heads (5 mm) surrounded by leaflets in star form. The flowers are in bloom between July and September. It is unequally distributed and prefers rocky limestone places at 2000–2900 m altitude. It is not toxic, and has been used traditionally in folk medicine as a remedy against abdominal and respiratory diseases.

Edelweiss is a protected plant in many countries, including Bulgaria, Croatia, Switzerland, France, Italy, Germany, Spain (Ordesa National Park), Slovakia (Tatra National Park), Slovenia (in Gorizia and Gradisca since 1896, in Carniola since 1898), Austria (since 1886) and Romania (since 1933).

It usually grows in inaccessible places, which is why it is associated in many countries of the alpine region with mountaineering. Its white colour is considered a symbol of purity, and holds a Latin as well as Greek name, floarea reginei (Queen's flower).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leontopodium_alpinum
crs, Pitoncle, nirmalroberts, oanaotilia has marked this note useful
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To nirmalroberts: Hello Nirmal!tomcezar 1 08-11 22:42
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Critiques [Translate]

beautiful plant, great close up, TFS Ori

  • Great 
  • crs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 523 W: 0 N: 920] (3543)
  • [2008-08-07 1:26]

Buna Cezr,

ai realizat o fotografie foarte buna a cestei superbe flori. Detaliile sunt excelente fiind redate cu mare claritate. Imaginea este cu atat mai spectaculoasa cu cat ai folosit un obiectiv normal. De asemenea ai folosit foarte bine lumina naturala obtinand excelente culori naturale.

Felicitari,
Cristian

Bonjour Cezar,
La publication est bien composée mais souffre d'un léger manque de profondeur de champ afin de valoriser les détails.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Hi Cezar,
What a coincidence!
The same species has come as today's "Botany Photo of the Day" at http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2008/08/leontopodium_alpinum.php
Lovely plant.
Thanks for sharing.
- Nirmal

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