Daphne 



one might imagine that every flower- wreathed shoot 

 wore a wide-brimmed pointed hat. The leaves are 

 of quite simple outline, long and rather narrow and 

 of smooth surface ; at first of the palest green colour 

 they darken as they age. 



There are two varieties of the Daphne, viz. D. 

 m. alba where the flowers are white instead of 

 rose-purple (this variety is sometimes found with 

 double flowers), and D. m. grandiflora where the 

 flowers are of unusually large size and appear in the 

 autumn. 



The Spurge Laurel (Daphne laureold) is a member 

 of the same small family the Thymelczacece and the 

 only other British representative of that family. In 

 some quarters its nationality is questioned, but an 

 Elizabethan writer says, " It growes abundantly in the 

 woods in most parts of England." It is chiefly in 

 evidence in the beech woods in the chalk of South-east 

 England. It is liked in gardens for its bright ever- 

 green leaves hence is it popularly "Laurel" and for 

 its fragrant whitish-green flowers which come in 

 March or even earlier. 



Daphne cneorum the Garland Flower is a small 

 evergreen shrub that carries great masses of pinkish 

 flowers. 



The whole genus of Daphne, is named, of course, 

 after the nymph Daphne, who, according to Homer, 



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