CHAPTER XV 



THE DAFFODIL (Narcissus Pseudo-narcissus) 



The wild Daffodil, or Daffy-down-dilly, is a 

 most interesting flower. Only a glance at it is 

 needed to see that it belongs to the mono- 

 cotyledonS; or to that group of plants which bear 

 threefold flowers. Also, there is the further 

 evidence of its grass-like, parallel-veined leaves 

 (Fig. 100, Plate 71) ; and if its little seeds are 

 examined they will be found to have only one 

 seed-leaf or cotyledon. Or, to put it more simply, 

 the seeds will not split into halves as peas and 

 beans will, for peas and beans are dicotyledons, 

 and each half of their seeds represents one seed- 

 leaf, or cotyledon. 



It may be said that botanists alone properly 

 distinguish daffodils from lilies, because struc- 

 turally considered the flowers are very similar. 

 Both daffodils and lilies possess three petal-like, 

 or coloured sepals ; three petals ; six stamens ; 

 and an ovary of three divisions. The daffodil 

 has, however, in addition, a large tube or crown 

 in its centre, but the botanist does not take this 

 into consideration when distinguishing these plants 

 from lilies ; for in the narcissus and the jonquil 

 this crown becomes very insignificant, and in the 

 snowdrop, and also in the snowflake, it entirely 



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