Know farther Edelweiss

People may rarely hear about the plant with the Latin name Anaphalis javanica. But what about the edelweiss? Must have often heard the name of edelweiss plant, or what is often touted as the "immortal flower". Anaphalis javanica more popular as Java edelweiss (Edelweiss javanica). First saw this plant, it was unique. Her flowers small, pretty, and never wilted. Edelweiss is a family of sunflower. The word is derived from the German word "edel" meaning noble, and "weiss" meaning white.
Anaphalis javanica is a plant endemic alpine zone / Montana in various high mountains of the archipelago. This plant can grow to a height of 8 meters, and has a trunk of a human foot, although generally not lebh height of 1 meter. This beautiful plant is now categorized as rare plants. Make no mistake, in Europe too there was also edelweiss. Its Latin name is Leontopodium Alpinum. Edelweiss Java including endemic and rare plants, shrubs shaped by the relationship the clump. While the European edelweiss flowers do not clump. But both have in common is equally beautiful.


Leontopodium Alpinum is one of Europe's famous mountain herbs. Leontopodium name means lion which comes from the Greek "Leon" (meaning lion) and "podion" (meaning foot). Leaves and flowers covered with white feathers like wool. Edelweiss flower stalk can grow from the size of 3-20 cm to 40 cm. Each flower consists of 5-6 small yellow flower heads (5mm), surrounded by young leaves into a star shape. This interest would develop between the months of July to September. These plants spread varies, but is more often found in rocky areas with an altitude of 2000-2900 m. This plant is not toxic, often used in the treatment of traditional to treat stomach and breathing. Thick plume emerging is an adaptation of the altitude, and protect plants from cold, dry, and UV radiation. Because this plant grows in areas difficult to reach, it is in some state of alpine, these plants associated with mountain climbing.


Edelweiss is a pioneer plant for young volcanic soil in the mountain forests and be able to survive on the land barren, because it is able to form mycorrhizae with certain soil fungi that effectively expand the area covered by the roots and improve efficiency in the search for nutrients. The flowers are favored by insects, more than 300 species of insects such as fleas, tirip, butterflies, flies, hornets and bees visible visit.


If the plant is left to grow branches sturdy enough, edelweiss can be a nesting place for birds thing Myophonus glaucinus sly stone. Parts edelweiss often picked up and taken down from the mountain for reasons of aesthetic and spiritual, or just a memento by the climbers. Even more ironic is the people who claimed to be a nature lover picking edelweiss as a justification that he had reached the top of the mountain. Within certain limits and along only small pieces were picked, this pressure can be faced. But this harvest must remain conscious. How not, the first climber picking edelweiss flower. If there are 1000 climbers then there is also a herpetic edelweiss 1000, and the population of these plants will be increasingly scarce.