198 LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS. 
the jealous Clytia communicated the affair to the 
father, who cruelly put his daughter to death. 
Helios was so indignant at the conduct of Clytia, 
that he could not forgive her, and wholly withdrew 
his affections. Overwhelmed with grief, she threw 
herself on the ground, and there lay for nine days and 
nights without taking any sustenance, and her eyes 
fixed on the sun, the type of her lover. At length, 
the gods, moved with compassion by her sorrow and 
contrition, transformed her into a Sunflower, which 
was believed constantly to turn its face towards the 
sun, as if to imbibe life and warmth from his rays. 
In its native country, Peru and Mexico, the Sun- 
flower is said to grow to the height of twenty feet or 
more, and to produce flowers about two feet in dia- 
meter. Gerard, the first English writer who notices 
this plant, which he calls " The Flower of the Sunne, 
or the Marigolde of Peru," tells us that he had 
grown it in his garden at Holborn to the height of 
fourteen feet, and producing flowers that measured 
sixteen inches over. 
It has been ascertained that a single Sunflower 
may produce upwards of two thousand seeds. These 
seeds when pealed have a taste similar to that of 
sweet almonds, and they are excellent food for fat- 
