1536 jpeg 658kB, Narcissus Mythology Wikipedia The Free Encyclopedia

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 being 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 plants are usually white or yellowish (orange or red in garden kinds), with either even or contrasting coloured corona and tepals.

Narcissus were popular in historical civilisation, both medicinally and botanically, but formally defined by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum (1753). The genus is generally thought to have about ten portions with about 50 species. The amount of varieties has mixed, depending about how they are classified, credited to similarity between types and hybridization. The genus arose some right time in the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene epochs, in the Iberian peninsula and adjacent regions of southwest Europe. The exact origin of the name Narcissus is unknown, but it is often linked to a Greek expression for intoxicated (narcotic) and the myth of the youngsters of this name who fell in love with his own reflection. The English expression 'daffodil' appears to be derived from "asphodel", with which it was compared commonly.

The types are local to meadows and woods in southern European countries and North Africa with a centre of variety in the American Mediterranean, the Iberian peninsula particularly. Both wild and cultivated plants have naturalised widely, and were launched into the ASIA to the tenth century prior. Narcissi tend to be long-lived bulbs, which propagate by division, but are also insect-pollinated. 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 urbanisation and tourism.

Historical accounts suggest narcissi have been cultivated from the initial times, but became increasingly popular in Europe after the 16th hundred years and by the late 19th century were an important commercial crop centred mainly on the Netherlands. Today narcissi are popular as chop flowers and as ornamental vegetation in private and open public gardens. The long history of breeding has led to a large number of different cultivars. For horticultural purposes, narcissi are categorised into divisions, covering a variety of colours and shapes. Like other members with their 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 use within traditional healing and has resulted in the production of galantamine for the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia. Long celebrated in literature and art, narcissi are associated with a number of themes in different cultures, ranging from fatality to good fortune, and as icons of planting season. The daffodil is the nationwide rose of Wales and the symbol of cancer charities in many countries. The appearance of the crazy flowers in springtime is associated with celebrations in many places.

Narcissus is a genus of perennial herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes, dying back again after flowering to an underground storage light. They regrow in the next season from brown-skinned ovoid lights with pronounced necks, and reach heights of 5-80 cm with respect to the species. Dwarf types such as N. asturiensis have a maximum level of 5-8 cm, while Narcissus tazetta might increase as tall as 80 cm.

The crops are scapose, having a single central leafless hollow bloom stem (scape). Several blue-green or green, slim, strap-shaped leaves occur from the bulb. The place stem bears a solitary blossom, but once in a while a cluster of flowers (umbel). The blooms, that are usually conspicuous and white or yellow, both or rarely renewable sometimes, consist of 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 disc to conical formed corona. The bouquets may hang up down (pendent), or be erect. There are six pollen bearing stamens surrounding a central style. The ovary is poor (below the floral parts) consisting of three chambers (trilocular). The fruit includes a dried up capsule that splits (dehisces) releasing numerous black seed products.

The bulb is placed dormant following the leaves and rose stem die again and has contractile root base that yank it down further into the soil. The flower stem and leaves form in the light bulb, to emerge the following season. Most varieties are dormant from summer to past due winter, flowering in the springtime, though a few varieties are autumn flowering.

Narcissus Pictures

Copyright: various copyright holders. To reuse an image, please click

Påskelilje Narcissus pseudonarcissus Biopix foto 64287

Portrait of Narcissus flower Daffodil

1923 Narcissus Avenue BIG PINE KEY EDEN PINES COLONY 572883