["Ajax"] Daffodils.—To these may be added the numerous forms, of which the common Lent Lily (also called "Ajax" or "Trumpet Daffodil") is the type, and which has pale sulphur-yellow blossoms with a lemon-yellow "trumpet." Some of the finest Daffodils, with large spreading flowers and correspondingly large and deep trumpets, belong to this section, among which may be mentioned Ard Righ or Yellow King, C. W. Cowan, Colleen Bawn, Emperor, Glory of Leiden, Golden Spur, Henry Irving, Hudibras, John Nelson, Madame de Graaff (see [Plate 4], fig. 17), Monarch, W. Goldring, &c. All these have single flowers varying in colour from almost pure white (as in C. W. Cowan, Colleen Bawn, and Madame de Graaff) to deep golden-yellow in many of the other varieties. There are a few double-flowered forms of the "Lent Lily," the best known being Capax, lemon-yellow; grandiplenus, deep yellow, plenissimus, and the Old Double Lent Lily grown in Gerarde's garden over 300 years ago.
["Bicolor"] Daffodils.—Another very fine group of Trumpet Daffodils are those known as "bicolors," so called because the spreading segments are one colour (generally white or creamy), while the trumpet is another colour (usually some shade of soft or deep yellow). Amongst the most popular forms in this group may be mentioned Ellen Willmott (see [Plate 4], fig. 16), Empress, Grandee, Horsfieldi (see [Plate 4], fig. 18), Mrs. J. B. M. Camm, Mrs. Morland Crossfield, Mrs. Walter T. Ware, Princeps or Irish Giant, Victoria, and Weardale Perfection (see [Plate 6], fig. 26).
The "[Star Daffodils]" (N. incomparabilis) have spreading starry petals, and a cup or chalice-like corona or trumpet in the centre. They are a very free growing group, the commoner kinds of which (such as Autocrat, Cynosure, Stella) may be naturalised in thousands in the grass, where they may be seen at "a glance tossing their heads in sprightly dance." Some other very fine forms are C. J. Backhouse, Frank Miles, Geo. Nicholson, Gloria Mundi (see [Plate 5], fig. 21), Lulworth (see [Plate 6], fig. 27), Mary Anderson, Sir Watkin (see [Plate 5], fig. 23), and Princess Mary of Cambridge (see [Plate 5], fig. 21), &c., but there are many others. There are also several double varieties of Star Daffodils, the most common being "[Butter and Eggs,]" Orange Phoenix (or Eggs and Bacon) and Sulphur Phoenix (or Codlins and Cream).
There are many other kinds of Daffodils which have only one flower on a stem, many of them being natural or artificial hybrids. Space will not permit detailed descriptions, but the following may be looked upon as the best:—Backhousei, Barri (with several forms), Bernardi, Burbidgei, (with several forms), gracilis, Humei, intermedius, Johnstoni (with several forms), Leedsi (with several fine forms), Macleayi, moschatus (with several forms, the best being cernuus), muticus, and Nelsoni (with several forms).
In the foregoing sections the blossoms are all of a fairly large size, and borne on stalks a foot or more high. There is, however a charming group in which the blossoms are in most cases comparatively small and the flower stalks short. These kinds are valuable for planting in bold masses in partially shaded places in the rockery, or in short grass.
N. cyclamineus is a charming little Daffodil. It belongs to the Lent Lily group botanically. The blossoms, however, are much smaller; the segments being lemon-yellow, and abruptly turned back upon the stalk from the orange-yellow cylindrical "trumpet." (See [Plate 5], fig. 19.)
N. minor is another miniature form of Lent Lily, with gracefully-twisted sulphur-yellow segments surrounding a deeper yellow spreading "trumpet." The variety minimus is smaller still, with rich yellow flowers, while plenus (or Rip Van Winkle) is a double variety.
One kind that differs conspicuously from all others is the "[Hooped Petticoat]" or "Medusa Trumpet" Daffodil (N. Bulbocodium), at one time considered a distinct genus ([Corbularia]). It is a charming species, having bright-yellow flowers, the chief characteristic of which is the cone-like or broadly funnel-shaped trumpet. There are several varieties, such as citrinus (lemon-yellow), conspicuus (golden-yellow), Graellsi (primrose-yellow), monophyllus (snow-white, leaves solitary), nivalis, (orange-yellow).
