Syn.: Gnaphalium leontopodium L.
Family: Asteraceae Bercht. et J. Presl
Distribution: Mountain areas of Europe – the Pyrenees, Alps, Apennines, Carpathian Mountains, mountains of the Balkan Peninsula.
Ecology: It grows on limestone rocks and screes, in mountain pastures, in the Alps at altitude up to 3000 m. Flowers from June to September.
Description: A perennial herb with an erect stem, 5–25 cm high, white woolly hairy. Basal leaves in rosette, petiolate, entire, oblanceolate. Hemispherical capitula grouped at end of stem into a dense cluster, surrounded by star-like bracts, flowers tiny, 5 to 8, 4–6 mm across, yellowish white.
Threat and Protection: This species is strictly protected in some countries (SK, A, D, I, SLO, CH).
These images were taken in Austria, the Raxalpe (August 15, 2004) and Italy, the Dolomites, Passo di Falzarego (June 21, 2005).
