100 THE TREES AND SHRUBS [LECT. 



spring, and ye/>a>t> , aged, because it is white in the 

 spring. Its head is divided into a number of downy 

 filaments (Spina) protruding like a thistle ; hence 

 it is called by Callimachus Acanthus, and by others 

 Pappus. 



This description agrees very well with some of 

 the herbaceous sorts ofSenecto, such as our common 

 Groundsel, except as to its turning white, or going 

 to seed, in the spring. It must be recollected, 

 however, that in warm climates, like Greece, it 

 would come to seed earlier than with us. 



GNAPHALIUM. 



Two species of shrubby plants belonging to this 

 genus are mentioned by Sibthorp, the best known 

 of which is G. stcechas, also called Helichrysum stce- 

 chas, which occurs both in Greece and in Italy. 



In Greece at present this plant is known by the 

 name of a^apavdov (everlasting), one of those which 

 Dioscorides assigned to it. This author states, that 

 it is synonymous with 'RXiypvarov and \pvo-dv- 

 0[jLoi>, both expressive of the yellow colour of its 

 petals ; adding, that it is used for chaplets, has a 

 small yellowish white stem, erect and stout, leaves 

 scattered like the 'Afiporovov, a blossom (KOfjLrjv} 

 orbicular, of a golden yellow colour, spreading out 

 in all directions like a parasol, and bearing a re- 

 semblance to dry clusters of flowers, together with 

 a slender root. 



Theophrastus states that it has golden- coloured 



