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Tiny or Rush Daffodil
Narcissus juncifolius.
THE family of Rush daffodils is a large one, but the plant before us is the rush daffodil, and very different from the basket-flowered daffodil, the gay corbularia which sometimes bears the name. There are not many cultivators of the rush or tiny daffodil, for its smallness is an offence against the popular expectation. Its beauty proclaims itself to those who have eyes to see, for it is one of the loveliest of the family. For a quick lesson in the characters of narcissi, it may be compared with corbularia, all the forms of which are classed by Parkinson as Pseudo-narcissus juncifolius, because of their narrow, rush-like leaves. The comparison will show striking differences in the leaves, and much more striking differences in the flowers, and enable any one not learned in the subject to apprehend the primary principle of the scientific classification. In corbularia (also known as bulbocodium) we note that the corona, or trumpet, is the principal feature of the flower, and the outer or perianth segments of quite secondary importance. The resemblance of the corona, cup, or trumpet to a deep basket justifies the name corbularia, and at once connects it with the corbel in architecture, which is in the nature of a basket supporting a window or ornament. In the flower before 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, say, the petals of the flower, are conspicuous elements, being broad and spread out, forming a leafy saucer to sustain the cup. The proportions of the cup to the divisions of the flower (which we have above spoken of as petals) form the basis of the modern classification. The narcissi are arranged, in accordance with the length of the cup, in three groups. The first group is magnicoronatoe, in which the middle of the flower is as long as the divisions. It comprises the pretty corbularia and the whole of the great trumpet series. The second group is mediocoronatoe, in which the crown is half as long, or perhaps three-quarters as long, as the division. In this group we find the noble chalice narciss, the grass-leaved odorus, and the little beauty with rush-like leaves that makes occasion for this discourse. The third group is parvicoronatoe, in which the crown is less than half as long as the divisions. Here we find the true daffodil of the poets, N. poeticus, the two-flowered N. biflorus, and the stately, many-flowered N. tazetta, valued above all the rest for growing in pots.
Narcissus juncifolius is a native of Spain and the south of France. It bears a general resemblance to the jonquil, from which, however, it differs in the crown being half as long as the divisions.
To cultivate this pretty thing is easy enough, and perhaps the chief point is to take care that its smallness does not lead to its destruction. Wherever it is, a label should mark it; then when the leaves die down there will be less risk of the disturbance of its roots. As a rockery plant it is perfect, and a sheltered nook, with a soil of a dry sandy nature, will suit it well. But it is best treated as a pot-plant, and when the flowers are past and the leaves are dying down, the pots should be put upon a dry shelf in the greenhouse, and there remain until the bulbs are once more inclined to grow, then they should be carefully picked over and re-potted in fresh soil. It is in some cases advisable to keep such little things for two seasons in the same pots undisturbed, giving them water in their proper growing season, and keeping them dry in their resting season.
The basket daffodil (Corbularia) in its common form is a lovely flower, of a rich lemon-yellow colour. This species offers several varieties, the most interesting of which is the one called monophylla, which usually has but one leaf accompanying each of its white flowers. The finest of the yellow forms is that known as conspicua.
The trumpet daffodil (Narcissus pseudo-narcissus) is the best known of all of the bright family, and of great importance as a garden flower. The varieties have bold yellow crowns, or trumpets, but in moschatus we have a flower of a pale sulphur, which changes to a pure white, and in the bicolor section there is a white perianth and a yellow crown. The following varieties of the trumpet section are particularly fine--viz., Horsfieldi, Emperor, Empress, Obvallaris, Maximus, Shirley Hibberd, Tottenham Yellow, and Dean Herbert. The best of the double varieties are Grandiplenus and Telamonius plenus. The chalice daffodil, or incomparabilis, is beautiful in all its forms, but the most conspicuous varieties are Orange Phaoenix, Hume's Giant, Butter and Eggs, Sir Watkin, and Mary Anderson.
The true daffodil (Narcissus poeticus) flowers later than any of the foregoing, and is renowned for the beauty of its white perianth and short purple cup. The most useful of this section are Biflorens, Angustifolius, Ornatus, and the Double White, or Gardenioides.
The many-flowered daffodil (tazetta) is greatly valued for pot culture and for forcing, though well adapted for the border, where the climate is kind and the position sheltered. The most distinct of these are Bathurst, Double Roman, Florence Nightingale, Grand Monarque, Newton, Paper White, Soleil d'Or, and Sulphurine.