dryad

A female spirit (nymph) of nature who lives in a tree. The fate of the dryades (δρυάδες) is closely connected to that of the trees they inhabit.

There several classifications of dryades:

• meliae — the nymphs of ash-trees;
• hamadryades — the nymphs of oak and poplar trees;
• epimelides/maliades/hamamelides — the nymphs of fruit trees;
• daphnae — the nymphs of laurel trees;
• oreades — the nymphs of mountain oaks and pines;
• ameploi — the nymphs of grape vines;
• aegeiroi — the nymphs of black poplars;
• balanides — the nymphs of acorn trees;
• caryae — the nymphs of hazelnut trees;
• craneae — the nymphs of cherry trees;
• moreae — the nymphs of mulberries;
• pteleae —the nymphs of elms;
• sycei — the nymphs of figs.

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