3S FA3IILIAR GJIillFN FLOWERS. 



in the subject to appreheud the primary principle of the 

 scientific classifieatiou. In curljularia (also known as 

 bulbocodiuni) we note that the corona, or trumpet, is the 

 principal feature of the Hower, and the outer or periauth 

 segments of quite secondary importance. The resem- 

 blance of the corona, cup, or trumpet to a deep basket 

 justifies the name corbularia, and at once connects it 

 with the corbel in arcliitcctiu'c, which is in the nature 

 (jf a basket supporting a window or ornament. In the 

 flower liefcjre us the central corona, or trumpet, is very 

 much contracted — indeed it cannot be called a trumpet, 

 but may be likened to a shallow cup. On the other 

 hand, the perianth segments, or, sa)', the petals of the 

 Hower, are conspicuous elements, being broad and spread 

 out, forming a leafy saucer to sustain the cuji. 



The proportions of the cup to the divisions of the flower 

 (which we liave above spoken of as petals) form the basis 

 of the modern classification. The narcissi are arranged, m 

 accordance with the length of the cnp, in three groups. 

 The first gi-oup is iiiaffiiiciiroiiatip, in which the middle of 

 the flower is as long as the divisions. Tt comprises the 

 pretty corbularia and the Avhole of the great trumpet series. 

 The second group is niediocuronata, in which the crown is 

 half as long, or perhaps three-quarters as long, as the 

 divisions. In this group we find the notjle chalice narciss, 

 the grass-leaved odorus, and the little beauty with rush- 

 like leaves that makes occasion for this discourse. The 

 third group) is jjarvkoronata, in which the crown is less 

 than half as long as the divisions. Here we find the 

 true daffodil of the poets, iV. jioeticus, tlie two-Howered 

 N. bijiovus, and the stately, many-flowered ^. Uicdtla, 

 valued abrive all the rest for growing- in pots. 



