metamorphoses 
N A R C I 
H 
H«J(AND»rA LiNN4|, 
of the NARCISSI, 
SSI. 
H owever fingular it might appear, that purple threads crept about like worms 
among tlie Foot-ftalks of the Amaryllis ; or that from the duller of the profufe 
wyaanthes rofe one double Flower ; this Inftance, by a familiar example, Ihews, that 
our wonder, at one objed, is often owing to our inattention to others ; and that what 
appears nwft ftiange in foreign Flowers, or foreign Transformations, is found familiarly, 
tlio’ lefs confpicuoufly in thofe of our own growth ; or is tranfaded daily in our gardens. 
The fingle Narciffus, here figured, has the fame kind of threads, only white ; and there 
is the transformation made twice over. 
From the Seeds of the common fingle Narciffus of our country gardens, rofe the Plant 
number’d i . in the prefent plate, and from its Seeds which ripened in perfedion, was pro- 
due’d the other, of which there are two views ; and which, though rais’d thus from our 
own Seeds, is the kind commonly called Oriental. 
The common wild Narciflus, too mean a Plant, and too well known to need a figure 
here bears on the fummit of its weak Stalk, one large Flower. The two parts of which, 
called the Nectarium or the Cup, and Petals, are both of the fame yellow. We have 
other common Narciffus’s, which produce many Flowers upon one Stalk : thefe are alto- 
gether different : The Cup being naturally of one colour, and the Petals of another: but 
the fingle flowered kind is always uniform in tind. 
The Plant i. raifed from the Seeds of that kind, produced Flowers in a luxuriance un- 
known to the Species in its natural ftate, yet prcferviiig their charader : Three grew upon 
one Stalk, with thofe fine Stipulas between them ; but the Cup and Petals were as in the 
original Plant of one colour. 
The Seeds of this Plant i. produced the other, 2. and here the Flowers again, inflead 
of three, were only one upon each Stalk ; but vaftly large and delicately doubled. The 
Leaves differ’d atfo, for they were fliortcr in the double Flower, and the Stalk was lovCcr. 
VVe fee therefore, to bear one or many Flowers upon a Stalk, tho it has been efteeratd a 
mark of great diftindion, may be the charader of a mere variety ; and we are kd by this 
toward believing the bolded thing that ever was faid of varieties, LtNNarus’s redud on of the 
Primrofe and Cowflip to one Species ; the Oxlip being a middle ftage between them. 
The manner in which the doubicnefs is produc d in this Plant, is different 
others which have been named ; for the ftriidiire of the Flower is alfo di eren . ■ 
fecn the Filaments produce the doubicnefs of the Tulip, Colchicum, an up 
of this Clafs ; and here they aflift in the change : but there is alfo a pecu lar p , 
'Mium in the Angle Flower. ITiis is naturally indented .at tlie Edges ; an in e 
Flower it forms raanv of the inner Petals. Thofe Indentings are carry 
Bare, and make fo many diftind parts: the reft of the addit.on rs from 
Filaments ; which, juft as in the Tulip, fpread into breadth and fplit flatvvi c, 
ing two or more Petals. 
The change from a fingle Flower to aClufler together, Is not pec '« 
‘licfc inftances, or to the Angle field Plant we have nam’d ; the Solomon s 
"'oods, has fometimes fingle, fometimes clufter’d Flowers, from eaci 
fo have many others. 
the garden in 
Seal, in our 
of the Stalk ; 
Narcini variante!. 
