talking about Hermann Hesse’s book, Narcissus and Goldmund .

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

Narcissus were well known in traditional civilisation, both and botanically medicinally, but formally identified by Linnaeus in his Types Plantarum (1753). The genus is normally thought to have about ten parts with approximately 50 species. The true quantity of species has varied, depending about how they are labeled, anticipated to similarity between kinds and hybridization. The genus arose a while in the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene epochs, in the Iberian peninsula and adjacent areas of southwest Europe. The precise source of the real name Narcissus is unidentified, but it is associated with a Greek term for intoxicated (narcotic) and the misconception of the youngsters of this name who fell in love with his own representation. The English expression 'daffodil' is apparently derived from "asphodel", with which it was likened commonly.

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

Historical accounts suggest narcissi have been cultivated from the earliest times, but became increasingly popular in Europe following the 16th century and by the late 19th century were an important commercial crop centred generally on holland. Narcissi are popular as trim bouquets so when ornamental plants in private and general public gardens today. The long history of breeding has led to thousands of different cultivars. For horticultural purposes, narcissi are labeled into divisions, covering a wide range of shapes and colours. Like other members of these family, narcissi produce a true number of different alkaloids, which provide some protection for the plant, but may be poisonous if accidentally ingested. This property has been exploited for medicinal utilization in traditional healing and has led to the production of galantamine for the treating Alzheimer's dementia. Long celebrated in art work and books, narcissi are associated with a number of themes in different cultures, ranging from loss of life to good fortune, and as icons of springtime. The daffodil is the countrywide rose of Wales and the icon of tumors charities in many countries. The looks of the crazy flowers in spring and coil is associated with celebrations in many places.

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

The plants are scapose, having a single central leafless hollow rose stem (scape). Several green or blue-green, slim, strap-shaped leaves happen from the light. The plant stem bears a solitary bloom, but sometimes a cluster of bouquets (umbel). The plants, that are conspicuous and white or yellow usually, both or rarely inexperienced sometimes, contain a perianth of three parts. Closest to the stem (proximal) is a floral tube above the ovary, then an external ring composed of six tepals (undifferentiated sepals and petals), and a central disk to conical designed corona. The blooms may hang down (pendent), or be erect. You will find six pollen bearing stamens surrounding a central style. The ovary is second-rate (below the floral parts) consisting of three chambers (trilocular). The berries includes a dried capsule that splits (dehisces) launching numerous black seeds.

The bulb sits dormant after the leaves and blossom stem die again and has contractile root base that draw it down further into the soil. The blossom leaves and stem form in the bulb, to emerge the next season. Most species are dormant from summer months to overdue winter, flowering in the spring and coil, though a few types are fall months flowering.

Narcissus Pictures

Narziß und Goldmund Narcissus and Goldmund by Hermann Hesse

narcissus and goldmund available from bantam books january 1971 isbn

Narcissus and Goldmund: A Novel When I read this I want to paint

Narcissus and Goldmund by Herman Hesse Book/Mag cover inspiration