Near Narcissus hut. Overland track Day6 Tasmania Overland

Narcissus /n?:r's?s?s/ is a genus of predominantly spring perennial vegetation in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family. Various common titles 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 way of a cup- or trumpet-shaped corona. The blossoms are usually white or yellow (orange or pink in garden kinds), with either even or contrasting coloured tepals and corona.

Narcissus were well known in traditional civilisation, both medicinally and botanically, but formally detailed by Linnaeus in his Types Plantarum (1753). The genus is normally thought to have about ten portions with about 50 species. The amount of types has varied, depending on how they are classified, a consequence of to similarity between hybridization and species. The genus arose time in the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene epochs, in the Iberian peninsula and adjacent regions of southwest Europe. The exact source of the name Narcissus is undiscovered, but it is often linked to a Greek expression for intoxicated (narcotic) and the myth of the children of that name who fell in love with his own representation. The English expression 'daffodil' is apparently derived from "asphodel", with which it was commonly compared.

The species are native to meadows and woods in southern Europe and North Africa with a center of variety in the Traditional western Mediterranean, the Iberian peninsula particularly. Both wild and cultivated plants have naturalised widely, and were introduced in to the Far East prior to the tenth century. Narcissi tend 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, 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 earliest times, but became increasingly popular in Europe after the 16th hundred years and by the late 19th century were an important commercial crop centred primarily on holland. Narcissi are popular as lower blossoms so that ornamental plants in private and general population gardens today. The long history of breeding has led to a large number of different cultivars. For horticultural purposes, narcissi are grouped into divisions, covering a variety of colours and shapes. Like other members of their family, narcissi produce a number of different alkaloids, which provide some protection for the plant, but may be poisonous if ingested accidentally. This property has been exploited for medicinal use in traditional healing and has led to the production of galantamine for the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia. Long celebrated in skill and literature, narcissi are associated with a number of themes in various cultures, ranging from death to good fortune, and as symbols of springtime. The daffodil is the national flower of Wales and the mark of tumor charities in many countries. The appearance of the untamed flowers in spring is associated with celebrations in many places.

Narcissus is a genus of perennial herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes, dying back again after flowering to a underground storage bulb. They regrow in the next 12 months from brown-skinned ovoid light bulbs with pronounced necks, and reach levels of 5-80 cm with regards to the species. Dwarf kinds such as N. asturiensis have a maximum elevation of 5-8 cm, while Narcissus tazetta may increase as large as 80 cm.

The plant life are scapose, having an individual central leafless hollow bloom stem (scape). Several blue-green or green, narrow, strap-shaped leaves happen from the light. The seed stem usually bears a solitary blossom, but once in a while a cluster of plants (umbel). The plants, that happen to be usually conspicuous and white or yellow, both or hardly ever inexperienced sometimes, consist of a perianth of three parts. Closest to the stem (proximal) is a floral tube above the ovary, then an outer ring made up of six tepals (undifferentiated sepals and petals), and a central disk to conical shaped corona. The flowers may suspend down (pendent), or be erect. You can find six pollen bearing stamens surrounding a central style. The ovary is poor (below the floral parts) comprising three chambers (trilocular). The berry contains a dry out capsule that splits (dehisces) liberating numerous black seeds.

The bulb is dormant after the leaves and blossom stem die again and has contractile origins that draw it down further into the soil. The bloom stem and leaves form in the light, to emerge the next season. Most species are dormant from summer months to past due winter, flowering in the spring, though a few kinds are fall months flowering.

Narcissus Pictures

Narcissus hut. Overland track Day6 Tasmania Overland track

Nele amp; Andrew Around Oz: Narcissus Hut, Cradle MountainLake St Clair

The Overland Track: Day Seven: To Narcissus Hut and Lake S… Flickr

The Overland Track: Day Seven: To Narcissus Hut and Lake S… Flickr