John amp; Maria39;s Garden Pages: On Narcissus and the Narcissus fly

Narcissus /n?:r's?s?s/ is a genus of mainly spring perennial crops in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family. Various common labels including daffodil,[notes 1] daffadowndilly,[3] narcissus, and jonquil are being used to describe all or some known members of the genus. Narcissus has conspicuous flowers with six petal-like tepals surmounted by the cup- or trumpet-shaped corona. The blossoms are generally white or yellow (orange or red in garden types), with either uniform or contrasting coloured corona and tepals.

Narcissus were popular in early civilisation, both and botanically medicinally, but formally described by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum (1753). The genus is normally thought to have about ten areas with around 50 species. The true number of varieties has varied, depending on how they are categorised, a consequence of to similarity between hybridization and varieties. The genus arose some right time in the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene epochs, in the Iberian peninsula and adjacent areas of southwest Europe. The precise origin of the name Narcissus is anonymous, but it is often linked to a Greek phrase for intoxicated (narcotic) and the myth of the youngsters of this name who fell in love with his own reflection. The English phrase 'daffodil' is apparently derived from "asphodel", with which it was commonly compared.

The kinds are local to meadows and woods in southern European countries and North Africa with a center of diversity in the European Mediterranean, particularly the Iberian peninsula. Both cultivated and wild plants have naturalised widely, and were unveiled into the Far East to the tenth hundred years prior. Narcissi tend to be long-lived bulbs, which propagate by division, but are insect-pollinated also. Known pests, disorders and diseases include viruses, fungi, the larvae of flies, mites and nematodes. Some Narcissus species have grown to be extinct, while others are threatened by increasing urbanisation and tourism.

Historical accounts suggest narcissi have been cultivated from the initial times, but became ever more popular in Europe after the 16th hundred years and by the late 19th century were an important commercial crop centred primarily on holland. Today narcissi are popular as cut blossoms so when ornamental vegetation in private and public gardens. The long history of breeding has led to a large number of different cultivars. For horticultural purposes, narcissi are grouped into divisions, covering an array of colours and shapes. Like other members of their family, narcissi produce a true number of different alkaloids, which provide some protection for the plant, but may be poisonous if ingested inadvertently. This property has been exploited for medicinal used in traditional healing and has resulted in the production of galantamine for the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia. Long celebrated in literature and skill, narcissi are associated with a true number of themes in various cultures, ranging from death to fortune, and as symbols of springtime. The daffodil is the countrywide bloom of Wales and the icon of cancer charities in many countries. The appearance of the outrageous flowers in planting season is associated with celebrations in many places.

Narcissus is a genus of perennial herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes, dying again after flowering to an underground storage bulb. They regrow in the next year from brown-skinned ovoid bulbs with pronounced necks, and reach levels of 5-80 cm depending on the species. Dwarf varieties such as N. asturiensis have a maximum level of 5-8 cm, while Narcissus tazetta may grow as large as 80 cm.

The plants are scapose, having an individual central leafless hollow rose stem (scape). Several blue-green or green, narrow, strap-shaped leaves happen from the light bulb. The seed stem bears a solitary rose, but occasionally a cluster of blooms (umbel). The flowers, that are usually conspicuous and white or yellowish, sometimes both or rarely renewable, consist of a perianth of three parts. Closest to the stem (proximal) is a floral pipe above the ovary, then an exterior ring composed of six tepals (undifferentiated sepals and petals), and a central disk to conical designed corona. The flowers may suspend down (pendent), or be erect. You can find six pollen bearing stamens adjoining a central style. The ovary is substandard (below the floral parts) consisting of three chambers (trilocular). The fruit involves a dried capsule that splits (dehisces) launching numerous black seed products.

The bulb is situated dormant following the leaves and rose stem die back and has contractile root base that move it down further in to the soil. The rose leaves and stem form in the bulb, to emerge the following season. Most kinds are dormant from warmer summer months to late winter, flowering in the springtime, though a few types are autumn flowering.

Narcissus Pictures

Narcissus Garden hybrids

Paper White Narcissus Flower Micuk: test

Narcissus 39;Silver Chimes39; fragrant miniature daffodil bulbs

Dwarf Daffodil Jetfire Narcissus Jetfire bulbs