CLASS XIX. ORDER I. ] GNAPHALIUM. 1065 
English Botany, t. 1002.—English Flora, vol. iii. p. 412.—Hooker 
British Flora, ed. 4. vol. i. p. 8301.—Lindley, Synopsis, p. 145. 
Root small, fibrous. Stems erect, mostly several, from six to 
twelve inches high, simple, rarely branched above, mostly curved at 
the base, clothed like the rest of the plant with a thick cottony 
covering. Leaves numerous, alternate, sessile, half embracing the 
stem, lanceolate, waved, the upper ones acutely pointed, the lower 
obtuse. Inflorescence corymbose, terminating the stem and branches. 
Flowers numerous, crowded. Jnvolucre ovate, its scales a delicate 
shining pale yellow, persistent, everlasting, ovate oblong. Florets 
numerous, tubular, the outer ones often reddish, the central ones 
yellow. ruit ovate, somewhat tuberculated. Pappus of simple 
rough hairs. Receptacle tuberculated, exposed after the fruit has 
fallen. 
Habitat.—Dry sandy ground. Jersey; between Hanxtown and 
Little Shelford, Cambridgeshire ; fields at Laringford, Norfolk. 
Annual; flowering in July and August. 
? 
We find frequent allusion in the earlier records of the Greeks to 
the practice of paying respect to the memory of departed friends 
by adorning their graves and offering libations for their repose. 
For him, as dead, with pious care, 
This goblet I prepare: 
And on the bosom of the earth shall flow, 
Streams from the heifer mountain-bred, 
The grape’s rich juice, and mixed with these 
The labour of the yellow bees, 
Libations soothing to the dead. 
Potter. (Iphigen. Tauric. ver. 112.) 
Tt was customary not only to offer these libations of blood, wine, 
milk, honey, &c., but the grave stones were anointed with sweet 
ungents, and adorned with flowers. 
Why do we precious ointments shower, 
Noble wines why do we pour, 
Beauteous flowers why do we spread, 
Upon the monuments of the dead ? 
Cowley (Anacreon. ode iv.) 
Various kinds of flowers were used for bedecking the tombs, as the 
jessamine, lily, rose, myrtle, &e. 
The sepulchre, 
Wherein he lies inurn’d, with wreaths of flowers, 
Glowing in all their various dyes, hung round. 
Potter. (Sophocl. Electr. v. 895.) 
And it is still the custom in many parts of the Continent, and 
especially France, to deck the monuments and graves with bouquets 
