Daffodils by the lake ⊱Dancing DaffodilsDaffodils, Jonquil

Narcissus /n?:r's?s?s/ is a genus of mostly 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 members of the genus. Narcissus has conspicuous flowers with six petal-like tepals surmounted with a cup- or trumpet-shaped corona. The blossoms are generally white or yellowish (orange or red in garden types), with either standard or contrasting colored corona and tepals.

Narcissus were well known in old civilisation, both medicinally and botanically, but formally defined by Linnaeus in his Types Plantarum (1753). The genus is normally considered to have about ten areas with approximately 50 species. The true range of types has mixed, depending on how they are categorised, due to similarity between species and hybridization. The genus arose a while 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 mysterious, but it is often linked to a Greek term for intoxicated (narcotic) and the misconception of the youth of that name who fell deeply in love with his own reflection. The English phrase '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 European Mediterranean, the Iberian peninsula particularly. Both cultivated and wild plants have naturalised widely, and were launched into the ASIA 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 urbanisation and tourism.

Historical accounts suggest narcissi have been cultivated from the earliest times, but became ever more popular in Europe after the 16th century and by the later 19th century were an important commercial crop centred primarily on the Netherlands. Narcissi are popular as slash blooms so that as ornamental crops in private and public gardens today. The long history of breeding has led to a large number of different cultivars. For horticultural purposes, narcissi are categorised into divisions, covering an array of colours and shapes. Like other members of the family, narcissi create 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 in traditional healing and has resulted in the production of galantamine for the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia. Long celebrated in artwork and literature, narcissi are associated with a true number of themes in several cultures, ranging from fatality to good fortune, and as symbols of spring. The daffodil is the nationwide flower of Wales and the sign of tumor charities in many countries. The looks of the wild 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 the underground storage light. They regrow in the next season from brown-skinned ovoid lights with pronounced necks, and reach levels of 5-80 cm depending on the species. Dwarf kinds such as N. asturiensis have a maximum elevation of 5-8 cm, while Narcissus tazetta may grow as tall as 80 cm.

The crops are scapose, having a single central leafless hollow blossom stem (scape). Several green or blue-green, narrow, strap-shaped leaves happen from the bulb. The herb stem bears a solitary flower, but occasionally a cluster of flowers (umbel). The plants, which 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 pipe above the ovary, then an outside ring made up of six tepals (undifferentiated sepals and petals), and a central disk to conical molded corona. The flowers may hang up down (pendent), or be erect. A couple of six pollen bearing stamens bordering a central style. The ovary is substandard (below the floral parts) consisting of three chambers (trilocular). The fruits involves a dried up capsule that splits (dehisces) releasing numerous black seeds.

The bulb lies dormant following the leaves and blossom stem die back and has contractile origins that move it down further into the soil. The flower stem and leaves form in the light, to emerge the following season. Most species are dormant from warmer summer months to overdue winter, flowering in the spring, though a few varieties are fall flowering.

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