Fauna
Plant · GBIF taxon 5404320

Snow Lotus

Saussurea medusa

Also known as Medusa Snow Lotus, Jellyfish Snow Lotus

Snow lotus produces an extraordinarily dense coat of white and yellowish woolly hairs that traps warm air, creating a miniature greenhouse against sub-zero alpine winds and intense ultraviolet radiation. The plant persists for five to ten years as a slow-growing taprooted rosette anchored in loose scree before producing a single dome-like mass of purple florets and dying after setting seed. Widespread harvesting for traditional folk medicine combined with the fragility of high-elevation scree ecosystems has caused steep regional population declines.

AlpineFloweringHigh Altitude
Snow Lotus reference
Licensed referenceIvar Leidus / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Autotrophic (photosynthetic)
Predators
  • Alpine ungulates
  • Caterpillars
  • Voles
ThreatsOvercollection for traditional medicine, climate warming, and scree habitat degradation
HabitatsAlpine scree, loose gravel talus, and rocky ridges
Life span5–10 years (monocarpic)
Classification
  1. FamilyAsteraceae
  2. SpeciesSaussurea medusa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
What to notice
Look for a low, rounded cushion completely wrapped in thick, cottony, cream-colored wool perched amid bare rock slopes.
Support conservation
Observe and photograph from established paths without stepping on delicate scree or dislodging root anchors.
Responsible observation
  • Leave Untouched: Never pick or dig up plants, as individuals take years to flower and die after a single bloom.
  • Tread Carefully: Stick to stable rock paths to avoid destabilizing loose scree slopes where root systems anchor.
Related species
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