Dryads
In Greek mythology, the dryads are female spirits of nature, who preside over the groves and forests. Each one is born with a certain tree over which she watches. A dryad either lives in or close to an oak tree, in which case she is called a hamadryad, These are female spirits that are bound to their own specific tree and look after it. This doesn't mean they have to remain rooted to the spot and grow bark; they get to frolic in the forest. The lives of the dryads are connected with that of the trees; should the tree perish, then she usually dies with it. Not quite immortal, Dryads live as long as their tree does, which can be a very long time. But when it dies, they perish too - so if you cut down a tree you may hear its spirit screaming. For these reasons, dryads and the Greek gods punish any mortals who harm trees without first appeasing the dryad or propagating the tree. The dryads themselves will also punish any thoughtless mortal who would enter their forest to do harm.
Dryads are tree nymphs in Greek mythology. In Greek drys signifies 'oak,' from an Indo-European root *derew(o)- 'tree' or 'wood.' Thus dryads are specifically the nymphs of oak trees, though the term has come to be used for all tree nymphs in general. Normally they are considered to be very shy creatures and terribly nervous of straying too far from the safety of their tree, except around the goddess Artemis who was known to be a friend to most nymphs. When Atemis comes along, they abandon all fears and join her hunting expeditions.
There are many kinds of dryads, each associated with a different species of tree.
Meliaids
The nymphs of ash trees were called the Meliai. They are also sometimes associated with fruit trees.
Hamadryad
The Oak dryads, Hamadryad, are supernaturally long-lived and tied to their homes. They are a step beyond most dryads. They are an integral part of their trees, such that if the tree dies, the hamadryad associated with it dies as well.
Daphnaie
The dryads of the laurel trees who spend most of their time sleeping, only coming out when no one is around.
Oreads
The dryads of the Mountain Pine Trees spend most of their frolicking in the mountain streams and high in the canopy.
Dryad. (2008, September 21). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 18:51, October 8, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dryad&oldid=239997672
