From Wikipedia we know that Edelweiss (Leontopodium alpinum) is one of the best-known European mountain flowers, which 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.
Photo by GarrulusEdelweiss 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).
In ancient times the Edelweiss flower was sought after by men who wished to prove their bravery. Because the flower grew at such heights and was often on cliff sides and in dangerous areas many people were known to have been injured, or even killed in pursuit of this flower, which led many men to wear it in the lapel as sort of a badge of honor. Of course, the fact that the Edelweiss flower was the favorite of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife, the Empress Elizabeth also gave it prestige. The flower became so popular among hikers that the governments of Austria, Germany and Switzerland took steps to protect it in certain parts of the Alps. Today Edelweiss is grown on many continents and is no longer in the danger it once was. It became even more popular however the 1960's when a song called Edelweiss in the popular stage play and film The Sound of Music sang its virtues and beauty.
For centuries Edelweiss extract has been believed to have positive health effects. Edelweiss teas have been popular as well as use of Edelweiss extract in hot milk, often sweetened with honey. Diarrhea and dysentery were two ailments that it was believed Edelweiss extract could cure. People also believed that it could help fight ailments such as diphtheria and tuberculosis. Today research by the pharmaceutical industry indicates that there was something to these ancient beliefs. Used in high quality anti aging and anti wrinkle cosmetics.
Edelweiss extract is an ancient folk lore remedy that modern science is making popular once again. They have also discovered that the ultra violet light absorbing chemicals this plant has developed from high altitude growth makes it a good additive to sun blocks. Pharmaceutical researchers also are interested in the way some chemicals in the plant prevent amplification of oxides, which are tied to the aging process.
And there's a story from the mythology:
The story goes that once, long, long ago, the Alps were far taller than they are these days. In those days, atop one of the snowcapped, precipice filled mountains lived an Ice Queen. She was said to be fair as snow and hauntingly beautiful. She was served by faithful gnomes, who lived with her on those slopes.
The Queen would sing melodiously and her sound would lure many a shepherd to lose his way in the mountains and come upon her abode. However beautiful she was, she had a flaw; her heart was frozen cold as if it were made of pure ice.
She would play with these hapless shepherds who sought her voice for a while. When she got tired of this play, the gnomes would toss the men off the cliffs to their death.
So she lived, through long ages alone except for poor companionship of her slaves.
It so happened that one of these shepherds, following her voice, entered into her abode. There was nothing different about him, this Man, nothing special, nothing noteworthy. But the Ice Queen steadily grew to love this man.
She would sing and he would sit awed beside her throne for hours and days to end. They had their love.
But the gnomes grew jealous, fearing that one day the Ice Queen may marry this mortal. Thus they conspired and threw him headlong into the valley below, where his heart burst asunder.
Seeing this, for the first and last time, the eyes of the Ice Queen warmed. Her heart melted a little and a single teardrop fell off her eternally beautiful sad cheeks.
It is this tear that has become the edelweiss , the most beautiful flower of the Alps.
Possibly the etymology of the word too is derived from this fable.
The Indonesian Jakarta Post reports:
For a mountaineer, edelweiss is proof that he or she has tackled a high mountain. Meanwhile, for a person in love, edelweiss is symbolic of the heights one would climb and the distances one would travel to prove their love for another.
"Edelweiss can remain on the stem for 25 years. The color changes but the flower remains beautiful," said Karso, 30, a mountaineer from Baturaden, Banyumas, Central Java.
In several locations, he added, edelweiss is a protected species, and freely picking the flower is prohibited.
"However, in certain places, it is not forbidden to pick edelweiss. In fact, this flower is freely sold (in those places)," said Karso, who claimed to have picked the flower from the top of Mount Slamet.
Edelweiss is quite expensive if you buy it far from where it is usually found.
However, in the Sikidang and Sinila Crater tourist sites of Banjarnegara, for example, edelweiss is sold at a very low price.
"Yes, we have a large supply of edelweiss here and can always meet an order no matter how big it is," Siti, one of the vendors selling flowers at the tourist site, told The Jakarta Post recently.
"Indeed, most people seek edelweiss. I don't know why. Perhaps edelweiss is considered the most beautiful.
"For me, however, it is just the same as other flowers," she said.
The future of research into Edelweiss extract looks as bright as the high Alpine sun, and the popularity of Edelweiss extract as an ingredient in high quality cosmetics means the plant will remain popular for many years to come.
For more information visit: www.revitol.com
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