MONOCOTYLEDONS. 



291 



endospermic ; the endosperm generally contains oil and 

 proteids and the cell- walls are thickened (cellulose). 



PRESENT YEAR'S SHOOT . 



SCARS OF PREVIOUS SHOOTS 



. i \ 



4 



Fig. 113. Rhizome of Solomon's Seal. 

 The numbers represent increments of successive years. 



309. Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) grows wild in 

 various localities, but has often been introduced and 

 "naturalised." Its bulb has much the same structure as 

 that of the Hyacinth, and its long narrow leaves are covered 

 with bloom and blunt- tipped. 



The large flowers (March, April) are carried singly on a long 

 and rather flattened flowering stem. The young flower is pro- 

 tected by a scale (bract or spathe) , and is at first erect, but 

 before opening becomes horizontal or nearly so, while its 

 short stalk also turns towards the light. The bract becomes 

 withered and wrinkled as the flower opens, but still clasps 

 the ovary, which is inferior. The perianth-tube is funnel- 

 shaped, about 18 mm. long, 15 mm. wide at mouth, 4 T>mn. 

 wide at base ; the perianth-lobes (three outer and three inner, 

 but inserted close together in a ring) are pale yellow and 

 ovate with acute tip. Beyond the perianth-tube is the 

 corona, a cylindrical outgrowth 30 mm. long and 15 mm. in 

 diameter, deeper yellow than the rest of the perianth ; its 

 mouth is frilled and its inner surface wrinkled. 



The six stamens have long filaments, inserted a little above 

 the base of the flower- tube ; the long anthers are close together 

 around the style, a little below the three-lobed stigma which 

 stands rather more than half-way up the corona ; the anthers 

 open inwards by slits. A little honey is secreted by the par- 

 titions separating the chambers of the ovary, near the top ; 



