24fJ FLORA HISTORICA. 



times variegated in so skilful a manner as to de- 

 ceive the purchaser by a belief of its being so 

 coloured by nature. Great quantities of these 

 dried and stained flowers have of late years been 

 imported into this country, for the purpose of de- 

 corating the head-dresses of our belles, as well 

 as the ornaments of our chimney-pieces, for 

 although it is a plant of long standing in our 

 gardens, its cultivation has never been attempted 

 on a large scale for the market. 



The ancients crowned the images of their gods 

 with garlands made of these flowers, and from 

 hence they were frequently called God's Flowers. 

 In Spain and Portugal they are still used to de- 

 corate the altars and the images of the Saints. 



The generic name of this genus of plants is 

 derived from the Greek yvacpaXov, and the Latins 

 also called them Gnaphalium from the downy or 

 cottony nature of the leaves or stalks, which they 

 collected to fill their couches and mattresses, in- 

 stead of wool or flocks. Pliny tells us that it was 

 also called Cliatncezeloih which signifies low or 

 ground cotton ; and it was sometimes named Al- 

 binum, from the whiteness of the leaves and stalks. 



We possess five native species of these plants, 

 which Dr. Turner observes was called Cud-weed 

 in Yorkshire, whilst in Northumberland it was 

 named Chafe-weed, because it was used to cure 



