Edelweiss and its hairy bracts

Edelweiss (*Leontopodium nivale* subsp. *alpinum*) grows in the high mountains of Europe and Asia. Its silvery-white “rays” are not petals but densely hairy bracts surrounding small flower heads. Research has shown that this hair layer absorbs some near-ultraviolet radiation before it reaches the plant’s cells. The hairs also create an insulating layer, though claims about exact effects on water loss and cold protection should not be overstated without direct measurements.