The Botanical Magazine/Volume 1/6

by William Curtis

[ 6 ]

Narcissus Minor. Least Daffodil.

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Class and Order.

Hexandria Monogynia.

Generic Character.

Petala 6, æqualia: Nectario infundibuliformi, 1-phyllo. Stamina intra nectarium.

Specific Character and Synonyms.

NARCISSUS minor spatha uniflora, nectario obconico erecto crispo sexfido æquante petala lanceolata. Linn. Sp. Pl. p. 415. Syst. Vegetab. p. 262.

NARCISSUS parvus totus luteus. Bauhin. Pin. 53.

The least Spanish yellow bastard Daffodil. Park. Parad. p. 105.

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We are not a little surprised that Mr. Miller should have taken no notice of the present species, as it must have been in the English gardens long before his time, being mentioned by Parkinson in his Garden of Pleasant Flowers: it is nearly related to the Pseudo-Narcissus, but differs from it in many particulars except size, vid. Linn. Sp. Pl. and Parkinson above quoted.

Though its blossoms are not so large as those of the other species, yet when the roots are planted in a cluster, they make a very pretty show, and have this advantage, that they flower somewhat earlier than any of the others.

Like the common Daffodil it propagates very fast by the roots, and will thrive in almost any soil or situation.

Though a native of Spain, it is seldom injured by the severity of our climate.