POETRY OF FLOWERS. 75 
THE CROWN IMPERIAL. 
Fritillaria, Imperialis . . Class 6 ; Order 1. 
POWER.—PRIDE OF BIRTH. 
This lily’s height bespeaks command, 
A fair, imperial flower, 
She seems designed for Flora’s hand, 
The sceptre of her power. 
This stately scion of the lily family is signi¬ 
ficant of power. The flowers are formed by a 
circle of tulip-shaped corollas turned downwards, 
which have the appearance of so many gay bells, 
the stigma answering for the clapper ; the whole 
is crowned by a coma or tuft of green leaves, 
which gives to it a singular and agreeable effect. 
Each of the bells contains some drops of water, 
which adhere to the bottom of the corolla till it 
withers. 
“ It did not need that altered look, 
Nor that uplifted brow— 
I had not asked thy haughty love, 
Were I as proud as now. 
“ My love was like a beating heart— 
Unbidden and unstayed; 
And had I known but half its power, 
I had not been betrayed.” 
Willis. 
