A genus of small, low-growing flowering plants in the rose family, found in cold alpine and arctic regions.
Named from the Greek 'dryás' (oak/dryad), likely because the plant's tough, woody, shrubby character reminded botanists of miniature trees or because of its connection to wild, untamed environments.
Scientists named a tough little Arctic plant after mythological tree nymphs—the flowering dryas actually thrives in the harshest, coldest places on Earth, so it's like they were saying these plants are as hardy and enduring as ancient forest spirits.
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