Acantha was a
nymph and the spirit of the
acanthus tree in
Greek mythology. He and
Apollo, the Sun god, loved each other deeply and had a long-standing affair. When Acantha died, Apollo turned him into an herb known for its love for sunlight. Acantha also had a sister,
Acanthis[?]. Upon the death of her brother, Acanthis was so distraught the other gods turned her into a
thistle finch[?].