Everlasting Flowers

Everlasting Flowers, various species of the genera Helichrgsum, Helipterum, Xeranthemum, etc., belonging to the order Compositcc, which agree in having an ienbricate involucre of dry or "scarious" bracts, often brightly coloured and retaining much of their beauty when dried. Helichrysum orientate, the "Immortelle" of the French, with small yellow heads of flowers, often bleached or dyed black, green, or orange, is a native of Crete and North Africa; but most of the species are natives of South Africa, Australia, and Tasmania. Yellow, pink, crimson, and white are the chief natural colours of the bracts of the various kinds. They are largely used for funeral wreaths.