CHAPTER II. 



STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE DAFFODIL. 



THE different forms of the Narcissus are so numerous 

 that it is impossible to grow even a small good collection 

 intelligently and successfully unless we first get some 

 clear ideas about the groups and divisions under which 

 they are ranged. These depend chiefly upon the 

 modifications in the structure of the flower bloom, 

 although other characteristics such as the differences of 

 colouring and of the habit and appearance of the foliage 

 cannot be wholly ignored. Therefore before entering 

 into the question of the best methods of cultivation, we 

 must look at the structure of the Narcissus bloom and 

 the bearing its variations have upon the classification of 

 the genus. 



If a flower of the common wild Daffodil, or of some 

 other single trumpet Daffodil, say " Emperor," be bisected 

 longitudinally by a clean cut beginning at the ovary and 

 passing through its whole length, it will be seen to 

 consist of two main parts 1st, a long tube; 2nd, a 

 whorl of petal-like growths surrounding and enclosing a 

 portion of this tube. The tube consists of two parts, 

 viz., a short stumpy portion at the lower end extending 

 from the ovary to the point where the whorl of petaloids 

 bends away at an angle, this portion being called the 

 perianth tube ; and secondly, an outgrowth in prolonga- 

 tion of this perianth tube and about twice its length, 

 which is called the corona or crown ; this widens out as 

 it goes until it ends in an open mouth, which is fringed 



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