THE NARCISSUS FAMILY 
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I. DAFFODIL. (NARCISSUS. Linn.) — Flowers showy, white or yellow, enclosed in bud in 
a membranous sheath (spathe), solitary on a leafless stalk from the root (scape), or several 
together in a cluster, all the stalks rising from the same point at the top of the main stalk (in an 
umbel). Perianth of 6 nearly equal lobes, in 2 rows, united at the base into a long tube, the 
mouth of which is prolonged into a tubular or cup- or saucer-shaped crown usually scalloped at 
the edge ; stamens 6, included in the perianth-tube, on which they are inserted in 2 rows ; carpels 
3, united into a seedcase which adheres to a small portion of the perianth-tube, a long style and 
an undivided stigma ; fruit a capsule. Herbs with bulbous roots, and narrow strap-shaped (linear) 
leaves with parallel veins. 
(1) Common Daffodil. (Narcis'sus Pseudo-narcis'sus.) — Flowers pale yellow; crown long, 
trumpet-shaped, yellow. 
(2) *Short-crowned Daffodil. (Narcis'sus incomparab'ilis.) — Flowers pale yellow ; crown 
short, cup-shaped, yellow. 
(3) *Two-flowered Narcissus. (Narcis'sus biflorus.) — Flowers whitish, usually 2 together; 
crown saucer-shaped, yellow. 
(4) *Poet’s Narcissus. (Narcis'sus poet'icus.) — Flowers pure white ; crown saucer-shaped. 
yellow with red edge. 
1. Common Daffodil, Lent Lily, Daffy-Down-Dilly. (Narcissus Pseudo- 
narcissus. Linn.) — As just described. A well known and beautiful flower and the only true 
native belonging to this genus in the British Isles, with pale yellow perianth-lobes, and a large 
golden somewhat trumpet-shaped crown which is scalloped and wavy at the edge ; each flower 
drooping and terminating a hollow stalk about 1 foot high and surrounded with narrow leaves 
about the same height. [Plate 56. 
Not uncommon. In pastures and woods ; throughout England, though in the north doubtfully 
native, introduced into Scotland and Ireland. March — April. Perennial. 
2. *Short-crowned Daffodil. (Narcis'sus incomparab'ilis. Mill.)— A species with 
a much shorter, more cup-shaped crown, otherwise resembling the Common Daffodil (Narcissus 
Pseudo-narcissus). 
Not native. In meadows ; naturalised near Thirsk in Yorkshire, and near Swansea. May. 
Perennial. 
3. *Two-flowered Narcissus. (Narcis'sus biflbrus. Curt.) — A species with whitish 
sweet scented flowers with a very short, saucer-shaped yellow crown with a jagged wavy margin, 
1-3 together. 
Not native. In meadows and orchards ; naturalised in many places in the south and west of 
England, and in Ireland. April — May. Perennial. 
4. *Poet’s Narcissus. (Narcis'sus poet'icus. Linn.) — A species having solitary flowers 
with pure white perianth-lobes and a very short saucer-shaped yellow crown with a bright red 
margin. 
Not native. In meadows and orchards ; naturalised in Warwickshire, Norfolk, and Kent. 
May — June. Perennial. 
II. SNOWDROP. (GALAN'THUS. Linn.) — A genus consisting of the one species : — 
Common Snowdrop. (Galan'thus niv&lis. Linn.)— Flowers white, solitary, drooping, 
on a short stalk enclosed in a membranous sheath (spathe), terminating a slender stem from the 
root (scape) 6 inches or more high. Perianth of 6 lobes, in 2 rows, with a very short tube at the 
