DRYAS OCTOPET'ALA. 
EIG HT-PETALED DRYAS. 
Class. Order. 
ICOSANDRIA. POLYGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
ROSACEAE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Duration. 
Inhabits 
Britain. 
4 inches. 
June, Aug. 
Perennial. 
Alp. rocks. 
No. 566. 
Dryas is a name established by Linneus from 
the Dryades — fabulous nymphs of the woods. To 
these sylvan deities the oak, called by the Greeks 
drys, was held as sacred, and the resemblance of 
the leaves of Dryas to the oak gave occasion for 
this poetical allusion. 
Dryas octopetala is one amongst the prettiest of 
alpine plants, but is not always cultivated with 
success, unless it be kept in a pot, and have a little 
protection in severe winters and shade in the sum- 
mer. It grows most abundantly on some of the 
Scotish mountains; and its delicately white flowers, 
and its evergreen dark shining foliage, render it 
beautiful in the eye of the botanist; although the 
Scotish agriculturist would joyfully dispense with 
its presence. As well as in several parts of Great 
Britain, it is found in Lapland and Siberia; and 
on the Jura mountains, at an elevation of five 
thousand feet above the level of the sea. 
We have seen it flourish delightfully in a well- 
protected shady corner, planted in sandy peat ; and 
by annually laying its outside branches, which root 
readily, it has become a most luxuriant bed. 
Don’s Syst. Bot. v. 2, 525. 
