Volume Vi Part 5 (1/2)
Narcissus medio purpureus praec.o.x, } Narcissus medio purpureus serotinus,} Park Parad.
Narcissus medio luteus vulgaris, }
The first of these, the one here figured is evidently the _poeticus_ of _Linnaeus_, judging by the authors to whom he refers in the third edition of his _Spec. Pl._ which are indeed few in number, and confined chiefly to _Bauh. Pin._ _Dodonaeus_; of the second, and third, he takes no notice.
The two former ones of these have the greatest affinity, inasmuch as they both produce for the most part only one flower, of a white colour, having a very short nectary, edged with orange; to both of these LINNaeUS'S specific description is equally applicable, as well as the trivial name of _poeticus_, given them indiscriminately by several of the old Botanists, some regarding the first, some the second as the plant mentioned by THEOCRITUS[2], VIRGIL[3], and OVID[4]; unfortunately both of them are found to grow in the same meadows, and have the same obvious appearances, it is therefore utterly impossible to say which of the two was the Narcissus of the poets; if we have the greatest difficulty in ascertaining what the plants were of the _Botanists_ of those times, how are we to discover what the _Poets_ meant, who with very few exceptions have been unpardonably inattentive to the appearances of nature. Since then the term _poeticus_ is equally suitable to both, and as there cannot be two with the same name, we have thought it best to get rid of it altogether, and subst.i.tute others which tend in a certain degree to discriminate the several species, denominating the
1st. _angustifolius._ 2d. _majalis._ 3d. _biflorus._
The _angustifolius_ here figured is a native of the South of Europe, and said by MAGNOL and CLUSIUS to grow spontaneously in the meadows about Narbonne and Montpelier.
It flowers in our gardens early in April, about a month before the _biflorus_, and full six weeks sooner than the _majalis_, increases readily by offsets, and succeeds best in a soil that is moderately moist. In what respects it differs from the two others, will be mentioned when they come to be figured.
[Footnote 2:
Florida sed postquam venere in prata puellae, His illa, haec aliis se floribus oblectabant; Narcisso illa quidem bene olente, atq; illa Hyacintho.]
[Footnote 3:
Pro molli Viola, pro purpureo Narcisso, Carduus et spinis surgit Paliurus acutis.]
[Footnote 4:
Nusquam corpus erat, croceum pro corpore florem Inveniunt, foliis medium cingentibus albis.]
[Ill.u.s.tration]
[194]
FRITILLARIA IMPERIALIS. CROWN IMPERIAL.
_Cla.s.s and Order._
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA.
_Generic Character._
_Cor._ 6-petala, campanulata, supra ungues cavitate nectarifera.
_Stam._ longitudine corollae.
_Specific Character and Synonyms._
FRITILLARIA _imperialis_ racemo comoso inferne nudo, foliis integerrimis. _Linn, Syst. Vegetab. ed. 14. Murr. p. 324._ _Ait.
Kew. v. 1. p. 432._
LILIUM sive Corona Imperialis. _Bauh. Pin. p. 79._