I got desperate and tried AI, got this response:
"The small leaves that protect daylily buds on some cultivars are known as cataphylls. These cataphylls serve as protective coverings for the developing buds. They are often dry, papery, and resemble scales. While they don't perform photosynthesis like true leaves, their primary function is to safeguard the delicate buds until they fully emerge as flowers." They are also known as scale leaves.
That is what I had in the back of my mind, but being this came from AI, I am not positively sure this applies to daylilies, but it seems it might?
@sooby
@admmad
