538 FLORA KISTORICA. 



SUN-FLOWER. Helianth 



LUS. 



Katural Order Compoutce. Oppositlfolice, Conjmhiferce^ 

 Juss. A Genus of the Sy?igenesia Polygamia Frus- 

 tranea Class. 



Uplift, proud Sun-flower, to thy favourite orb 

 That disk whereon his brightness loves to dwell ; 

 And as thou seem'st his radiance to absorb, 

 Proclaim thyself the garden's sentinel. 



Bartox. 



This Peruvian plant has been named Helianthiis, 

 from HXior, the sun, and avQor, a flower, because 

 its magnificent corolla bears a resemblance to the 

 great luminary of day ; and on this account it was 

 used in the religious ceremonies of the ancient 

 Peruvians who worshipped the god of day, — the 

 virgins, who officiated in the Temple of the Sun, 

 being crowned with the Helianthus, made of purfe 

 gold, and wearing them also on their breast, and 

 carrying others in their hands, which, reflecting the 

 rays of their deity by the brilliancy of the metal, 

 formed an effect of the most imposing grandeur. 



The Spaniards, mIio were amazed at this display 

 of gold, were still more astonished when, in IVIay, 

 they saw the fields covered with these flowers, 



