The Edelweiss, part of a floral series, is depicted in the coin symbolising a duty to the environment and the part Austria is playing in the development of a Community environmental policy. 

Edelweiss has become the national flower of Austria and is, indeed, one of its most defining symbols.

The state flower of Austria is found throughout the countryside both in the wild and in gardens.

It is a small, white flowering plant that is native to Europe. The German word 'Edel' has the meaning of nobility while the German word 'weiss' means white.