The homonymic names for an epimelias (Ἐπιμηλιάς) relates them to both fruit trees and flock animals giving them their dual role.
Μια ακόμα κατηγορία Νυμφών είναι αυτή των Βρισῶν όνομα που πήραν από την περιοχή της Βρίσας.
In Lesbos the Nymphs were called Epimelides and three categories of them are known: Meliai, Dryades and Heleioi.
One etymology for the ancient Greek word μῆλον refers to a goat or a sheep.
However, another etymology for the ancient Greek word μῆλον can refer to an apple or any other fruit, while ἐπιμηλίς is specifically the name for medlar.