Senescence description in daffodils The perianth of the ‘Dutch Master’ daffodil flower consists of an outer whorl of three sepals, an inner whorl of three petals and a trumpet-like paracorolla (corona). The sepals and petals were indistinguishable from each other and therefore were termed tepals. The timing and characteristics of perianth senescence
in the attached and detached daffodil flowers were as follows: The first visible signs of perianth senescence were a discoloration at the tepal tips (onset) and often an inrolling of the tepal margins. The tepals dried as they discoloured and the discoloration (drying) spread inward to envelop the majority of each tepal (when approximately 1 cm from the tip inwards discoloured, designated 50% senescent). Following this, the corona lost turgidity and collapsed (corona collapse).