History of Daylilies
Daylilies are not the common roadside lily that people think of when you mention the word Daylily. Through the hard work of the hybridizers, the colors range from white to intense "black." There are whites, pinks, peach, red, lavender, almost blue, and almost black. Many have fragrance and some are classified as night blooming. The form of the flower varies from spidery lilies to doubles. They are easily grown and a pleasure to the soul. This article will just have basic information. If you want more, I suggest that you join the American Hemerocallis Society and a local Daylily Society. My site at Suite101.com has links to growers and additional information on Daylily culture.
Where did Daylilies Come From?
Where did Daylilies come from? There appears to be several lines of thought about this. Some believe that they came from Chin, others from elsewhere in the Orient. The Daylily has been a major plant in China since the first days of ancient Chinese culture. There is something unique about the Daylily as it seems to grow in all kinds of soil or weather. The Chinese gave the plant as a gift to the grieving and melancholy. Since it is so adaptable, it rewards all who provide even the most minuscule care. There is no other plant that lifts your spirits with so little care.
Diploid and Tetraploid Daylilies
What is the difference between these two Daylilies? Basically, it is in the number of chromosomes. The diploid has 22 or two sets, while the tetraploid has double the amount of chromosomes. There are also triploids, which have three sets of chromosomes.
Perhaps a little Biology 101 is in order. Well, genetics is somewhat more advanced than the first biology course, but here goes. Begin with a single cell (plant or animal). Within that cell resides the blueprint for life or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). DNA is found chiefly in the nucleus of cells and is responsible for the transmitting the characteristics of cells such as making a leaf, root or flower. In the nucleus of cells are the structures called chromosomes. Each characteristic represents part of a chromosome (gene). Genes are composed of DNA and RNA (ribonucleic acid) that translates the DNA code so the correct structure is created.
A DNA chain contains links called nucleotides. Each nucleotide has three parts: a sugar unit, a phosphate unite, and a base. Lots of these link together to form a DNA chain. When a cell reproduces, these chains split apart and form a complete new unit. We won't go into the way the chromosomes link with the complements, because that is beyond the scope of this article (and my understanding).
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