There is a flower known to botanists, one of the same genus with our summer plant called "Life-Everlasting," a ,begin italics,Gnaphalium,end italics, like that, which grows on the most inaccessible cliffs of the Tyrolese mountains, where the chamois dare hardly venture, and which the hunter, tempted by its beauty, and by his love, (for it is immensely valued by the Swiss maidens,) climbs the cliffs to gather, . . . It is called by botanists the ,begin italics,Gnaphalium leontopodium,end italics,, but by the Swiss ,begin italics,Edelweisse,end italics,, which signifies ,begin italics,Noble Purity,end italics,. Thoreau seemed to me living in the hope to gather this plant, which belonged to him of right. The scale on which his studies proceeded was so large as to require longevity, and we were the less prepared for his sudden disappearance. The country knows not yet, or in the least part, how great a son it has lost. It seems an injury that he should leave in the midst his broken task, which none else can finish,—a kind of indignity to so noble a soul, that it should depart out of Nature before yet he has been really shown to his peers for what he is. But he, at least, is content. His soul was made for the noblest society; he had in a short life exhausted the capabilities of this world; wherever there is knowledge, wherever there is virtue, wherever there is beauty, he will find a home.

(from "Biographical Sketch" by Ralph Waldo Emerson)
Question
Why does the author ,begin emphasis,most,end emphasis, likely include a reference to the Swiss plant Edelweiss?
Answer options with 4 options
1.
to demonstrate Thoreau's deep knowledge of plants
2.
to illustrate that Thoreau was fond of mountain climbing
3.
to connect its rarity and nobility to the character of Thoreau
4.
to emphasize the difficulties that Thoreau faced during his life