EVERLASTING. 247 



chafed flesh. In addition to these names, Gerard 

 adds that of Cotton-weed ; and, speaking of the 

 Gnaphalmm Alpiimm, he says, " the flower being 

 gathered when it is yong, may be kept in such 

 manner as it was gathered; I meane in such 

 freshnesse and well liking, by the space of a 

 whole yeere ; wherefore our English women haue 

 called it Liue4ong, or Liue-for-euer, which name 

 doth aptly answer his effects ;" and from hence 

 the name Everlasting has originated. 



At what exact period the Eastern Everlasting, 

 Gnaphalmm Orientale, was first cultivated in this 

 country cannot be ascertained, but we may fairly 

 conclude that it was soon after the year 1597, as 

 we learn from Gerard's Herbal, which was pub- 

 lished in that year, that the plant in its dried 

 state had then been sent to this country, and from 

 the earnestness shown in that age for the collect- 

 ing of exotic plants, there can be no doubt but 

 that it was soon afterwards obtained for the par- 

 terres of London ; but we have no author who 

 speaks of its cultivation before Parkinson, by 

 whom we learn that it was an inmate of our 

 gardens prior to 1628. Gerard speaks of this 

 species under the name of " Golden Mother- 

 woort, or Cud-weed ;" and he describes the 

 flowers as standing " on the top of the stalkes 

 ioined togither in tuftes of a yellow colour, glit- 



