typical Narcissus

Narcissus /n?:r's?s?s/ is a genus of predominantly spring perennial crops in the Amaryllidaceae (amaryllis) family. Various common titles 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 flowers are generally white or yellowish (orange or pink in garden varieties), with either even or contrasting colored corona and tepals.

Narcissus were popular in historic civilisation, both and botanically medicinally, but formally defined by Linnaeus in his Varieties Plantarum (1753). The genus is generally considered to have about ten areas with around 50 species. The number of varieties has assorted, depending about how they are categorised, due to similarity between hybridization and varieties. The genus arose some right amount of time in the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene epochs, in the Iberian peninsula and adjacent areas of southwest Europe. The precise origins of the name Narcissus is unidentified, but it is often linked to a Greek word for intoxicated (narcotic) and the misconception of the youngsters of that name who fell in love with his own representation. The English expression 'daffodil' appears to be produced from "asphodel", with which it was commonly likened.

The varieties are indigenous to meadows and woods in southern Europe and North Africa with a middle of variety in the Traditional western Mediterranean, particularly the Iberian peninsula. Both cultivated and wild plants have naturalised widely, and were presented in to the ASIA to the tenth hundred years prior. Narcissi have a tendency to be long-lived bulbs, which propagate by division, but are also insect-pollinated. Known pests, disorders and diseases include viruses, fungi, the larvae of flies, nematodes and mites. Some Narcissus species have become extinct, while others are threatened by increasing tourism and urbanisation.

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 late 19th century were an important commercial crop centred mainly on the Netherlands. Narcissi are popular as slice blossoms as ornamental vegetation 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 classified into divisions, covering a variety of colours and shapes. 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 ingested inadvertently. This property has been exploited for medicinal used in traditional healing and has resulted in the production of galantamine for the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia. Long celebrated in art work and literature, narcissi are associated with a true number of themes in different cultures, ranging from death to good fortune, and as symbols of spring. The daffodil is the countrywide flower of Wales and the icon of cancers charities in many countries. The looks of the outrageous flowers in planting season is associated with celebrations in many places.

Narcissus is a genus of perennial herbaceous bulbiferous geophytes, dying again after flowering to an underground storage light bulb. They regrow in the next time 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 grow as extra tall as 80 cm.

The vegetation are scapose, having an individual central leafless hollow rose stem (scape). Several blue-green or green, narrow, strap-shaped leaves arise from the light bulb. The herb stem bears a solitary bloom, but occasionally a cluster of blooms (umbel). The bouquets, that are conspicuous and white or yellowish usually, sometimes both or almost never inexperienced, consist of a perianth of three parts. Closest to the stem (proximal) is a floral pipe 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 blossoms may suspend down (pendent), or be erect. There are six pollen bearing stamens bordering a central style. The ovary is substandard (below the floral parts) comprising three chambers (trilocular). The fruits consists of a dry out capsule that splits (dehisces) launching numerous black seed products.

The bulb is dormant following the leaves and bloom stem die again and has contractile origins that move it down further into the soil. The flower stem and leaves form in the light bulb, to emerge the following season. Most species are dormant from summertime to late winter, flowering in the spring and coil, though a few types are fall flowering.

Narcissus Pictures

Narcissus Flowers magazine

Poem A Day from the George Hail Library ~ Selected by Maria Horvath

Send eCard 39;Daffodil 39;Changing Colors39;39; Photo gallery Maple

Flowers of the Month : Narcissus, Holly, + Poinsettia