Nicolas Poussin Echo and Narcissus 1629

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 members of the genus. Narcissus has conspicuous flowers with six petal-like tepals surmounted with a cup- or trumpet-shaped corona. The blossoms are usually white or yellowish (orange or red in garden kinds), with either even or contrasting coloured tepals and corona.

Narcissus were popular in historic civilisation, both and botanically medicinally, but formally explained by Linnaeus in his Types Plantarum (1753). The genus is generally thought to have about ten portions with around 50 species. The true amount of types has varied, depending how they are grouped, anticipated to similarity between species and hybridization. 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 source of the name Narcissus is unidentified, but it is often linked to a Greek phrase for intoxicated (narcotic) and the myth of the children of this name who fell deeply in love with his own representation. The English term 'daffodil' is apparently derived from "asphodel", with which it was likened commonly.

The varieties are native to meadows and woods in southern European countries and North Africa with a middle of diversity in the Traditional western Mediterranean, the Iberian peninsula particularly. 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, diseases and disorders include viruses, fungi, the larvae of flies, mites and nematodes. 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 hundred years and by the late 19th hundred years were an important commercial crop centred mainly on the Netherlands. Narcissi are popular as lower flowers and as ornamental plants in private and general public 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 an array of shapes and colours. 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 used in traditional healing and has resulted in the production of galantamine for the treating Alzheimer's dementia. Long celebrated in art and books, narcissi are associated with a number of themes in various cultures, ranging from fatality to fortune, and as symbols of spring. The daffodil is the national flower of Wales and the icon of malignancy charities in many countries. The appearance of the crazy flowers in springtime is associated with festivals in many places.

Narcissus is a genus of perennial herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes, dying back again after flowering to the underground storage bulb. They regrow in the next year from brown-skinned ovoid light bulbs with pronounced necks, and reach heights of 5-80 cm with respect to the species. Dwarf kinds such as N. asturiensis have a maximum height of 5-8 cm, while Narcissus tazetta may develop as extra tall as 80 cm.

The plants are scapose, having a single central leafless hollow bloom stem (scape). Several blue-green or green, narrow, strap-shaped leaves occur from the light. The herb stem bears a solitary flower, but occasionally a cluster of bouquets (umbel). The plants, which can be usually conspicuous and white or yellowish, both or hardly ever inexperienced sometimes, contain a perianth of three parts. Closest to the stem (proximal) is a floral pipe above the ovary, then an external ring made up of six tepals (undifferentiated sepals and petals), and a central disc to conical designed corona. The bouquets may hang up down (pendent), or be erect. You will find six pollen bearing stamens encircling a central style. The ovary is second-rate (below the floral parts) consisting of three chambers (trilocular). The berries includes a dry capsule that splits (dehisces) liberating numerous black seeds.

The bulb is placed dormant after the leaves and bloom stem die back again and has contractile roots that move it down further in to the soil. The flower leaves and stem form in the light, to emerge the following season. Most species are dormant from summer time to later winter, flowering in the planting season, though a few species are fall flowering.

Narcissus Pictures

NARCISSUS amp; ECHO A Dose of SAM.ho

Joseph Mallord William Turner ‘Narcissus and Echo’, exhibited 1804

Narcissus Golden Echo

Myths and Misadventures: Echo and Narcissus