LXXXIII. AMARYLLIDE^E. 453 



I. NARCISSUS. NARCISSUS. 



Flowers either solitary or several together, from a terminal spatha. 

 Perianth with a distinct tube above the ovary, and 6 usually spreading 

 segments, with a cup-shaped or tubular, coloured crown inside, round 

 the orifice of the tube. 



A well-defined and very natural genus, chiefly south European, not 

 extending into Asia beyond the Caucasus, and probably containing but 

 few real species, although some botanists, availing themselves of the 

 most trifling characters, observed chiefly in cultivated varieties, have 

 proposed the breaking it up into 15 or more genera, with above a 

 hundred species. 



Flowers solitary, the crown broadly tubular, as long as the 



segments 1. N. Pseudonarcissus. 



Flowers usually 2, the crown very short and concave . 2. N. bifiorus. 



Several other cultivated species have occasionally established them- 

 selves for a time in the vicinity of gardens, particularly N. poeticus, 

 from the Mediterranean region, which is near N. biflorus, but has 

 usually a solitary flower, of a pure white, except the crown, which is 

 yellow, often edged with orange or crimson. 



1. N. Pseudonarcissus, Linn. (fig. 1024). Daffodil, Daffy-down- 

 dilly, Lent Lily. — Bulb rather large. Leaves usually 2 or 3, seldom a 

 foot long, from 4 to 6 lines broad, of a bluish green. Stem rather 

 taller, with a single large, scentless, yellow flower. Perianth-tube 

 about an inch long, wider at the top ; the segments ovate or oblong, of 

 the length of the tube ; the crown very conspicuous, broadly tubular, 

 often longer than the segments, and slightly 6-lobed, or waved at the 

 edge. 



In meadows and mountain pastures, dispersed over the greater part 

 of temperate Europe, especially France and Spain. Abundant in many 

 parts of England, but often only as an escape from cultivation, as it 

 soon establishes itself in great quantities in a meadow where it was once 

 introduced ; in Scotland and Ireland only where introduced. Fl. early 

 spring. It varies much in size and intensity of colour of the flower, and 

 the relative size of the crown. 



2. N. biflorus, Curt. (fig. 1025). Primrose Peerless. — Much resembles 

 the Daffodil in stature and foliage, except that it is rather stouter and 

 taller. Flowers usually 2 together, of a pale straw-colour, or nearly 

 white, and sweet-scented. Perianth-tube slender, about an inch long ; 

 the segments rather shorter, oval or oblong ; the crown very short, con- 

 cave or broadly cup-shaped, yellow, slightly crenate at the edge. 



In meadows, in southern and western Europe, chiefly Spain and 

 western France. In Britain, much cultivated in cottage gardens, and 

 naturalised in some western and southern counties. Fl. spring. 



II. GALANTHUS. SNOWDROP. 



A single species, distinguished as a genus from Leucoium by the inner 

 perianth- segments being shorter than the outer ones, and by the finely 

 pointed anthers opening at the top only. 



1. G. nivalis, Linn. (fig. 1026). Common &— Bulb rather small. 



