GNAPHALIUM, CUDWEED, GOLDY-LOCKS, ETERNAL FLOWER, &c. a genus of the polygamia superflua order, belonging to the syngenia class of plants. There are 41 species; the most remarkable of which are, 1. The margaritaceum, or pearly white eternal flower, hath creeping, very spreading roots, crowned with broad, spear-shaped, white, hoary leaves; herbaceous, thick, woolly stalks, a foot and an half high, branching outward, garnished with long acute pointed white woolly leaves, and termina-
ted by a corymbose cluster of yellowish flowers, which appear in June and July, and are very ornamental. 2. The plantaginifolium, hath large woolly radical leaves, decumbent running roots, and herbaceous simple stalks, rising six or eight inches high, terminated by a corymbus of white flowers in June, July, &c. 3. The flachas hath a shrubby stalk, dividing into slender branches three feet long, terminated by corymbose clusters of yellow flowers, appearing in May and June. 4. The orientale, or oriental goldilocks, hath three varieties, with yellow, gold-coloured, and white silvery flowers. They have shrubby stalks, rising two or three feet high. 5. The odoratissimum, or sweet-scented eternal flower, hath shrubby winged stalks, branching irregularly a yard high, with corymbose clusters of bright yellow flowers, changing to a dark yellow. 6. The arboreum, or tree gnaphalium, hath a woody stem, branching four or five feet high, narrow sessile leaves, with revolute borders, smooth on their upper side, and roundish bunches of pale yellow flowers.
The first three sorts are hardy, and will thrive in any soil or situation. The two first increase exceedingly by their roots; and the third is easily propagated by slips. The fourth, fifth, and sixth sorts are somewhat tender; and therefore should be kept in pots, to be sheltered in a green-house or garden-frame in winter. Others may be planted in the full ground, in a dry and warm situation, especially the oriental kind and varieties, and likewise the sweet-scented kind; for these two species will struggle tolerably through an ordinary winter, and make a pretty appearance during the summer-months. All these are propagated by slips, or cuttings of their shoots.—The flowers of all these species are remarkable for retaining their beauty for years, if carefully gathered in a dry day, soon after they are blown.