I was thinking that this type of small leaf had a name, but can't remember it. Is there a specific name for these leaves that are showing in the photos: The small leaves up near the buds?

bract?

Could be, I would normally consider a bract to be further down the scape where branches might form. I was thinking these were named something different.

The AHS description mentions "young plant" when talking about bracts, so it makes sense that those small leaves would indicate more branching to come.
https://daylilies.org/daylily-...

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

Interesting!

I also was thinking bracts.
Remember the scape has more to grow and branch, yet.
It is possible they protect early buds, then are left behind at branching points as the scape matures more.
Here is an example I followed with my purple bracts. Earlier they are down at the buds, then later are left behind at branching points.

Later still...

Great examples, Orion.

Thanks for the acorn.

I would call them bracts.

@Seedfork
What the AI provided is incorrect for daylilies but would have been correct for some trees and shrubs. Cataphylls are typically the bud scales on the outside of the buds (usually overwintering) of some deciduous trees and shrubs. Buds that do not have specialized bud scales or cataphylls are described as "naked resting buds". Cataphylls are mentioned in "Naked resting bud morphologies and their taxonomic and geographic distributions in temperate, woody floras" https://nph.onlinelibrary.wile...

Daylilies do not have true bud scales even on their overwintering buds.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Botany (can be searched and read online at the Internet Archive) defines bract as "A leaf, usually much reduced, which subtends a flower or inflorescence in its axis".
The Penguin Dictionary of Botany (also can be searched and read online at the Internet Archive) defines bract as "A leaflike organ subtending an inflorescence".
The Wordsworth Dictionary of Botany (ditto) defines bract as "A small atypical leaf subtending a flower-bud in its axil.

As these are inflorescences and flower buds the appropriate term would seem to be bracts.

Maurice,
Thanks so much for that information, that was exactly what I needed to know.

Hello, Larry. A couple years ago, you started a thread about the differences between Kwanso and some other variety; I would like to know what that other variety is. Do you remember?

Hi, Dave--I gave that old thread a bump for you.

Many thanks, Larry.

Thanks, Nan!