Genus Narcissus L.
Род НАРЦИС — NARCISSUS L.¹
L. Gen. PI. ed 5 (1754) 101 ; Sp.. PI. ed. 1 (1753) 289.
Fam: Amaryllidaceae Lindl.
Genus: Narcissus L.
English Name: Daffodil, Narcissus, JonquilDescription:
• Perennial bulbous plants with leafless, cylindrical or slightly flattened stems at the top with a membraneous vaginal leaf, at the bottom of which flowers (but on the stem) are attached. Leaves at the base, usually 3 (but 2 and 4), linear. The flowers are aromatic, partly bent, quite large, most often one per stem, but also 2 to many in the sunshade-like inflorescence. The perianth grows at the bottom into a long tube, and at the top it is formed by 6 loose, strongly spread leaves. Around the opening of the perianth tube is a shorter or longer crown. Stamens 6, usually unequally long, attached to the inside of the upper half of the perianth tube. The style of the carpophore with 3 short and extended twigs. The fruit is cracked longitudinally by 3 stitches. Seeds in 2 vertical rows in each well, with black wrinkled sheath.
Table for determination of the species
1 Only one flower with white perianth normally develops at the top of the stem. Crown small, shallowly similar to a pan, yellow, with a red colorwed and a finely cut edge ………………………………………...................................……………………………………. ....... - N. poëticus L.
1* Only one flower with yellow perianth develops at the top of the stem. Crown large (almost equal to the length of the petals), deeply bell-shaped, yellow, usually with a wavy cut edge ...... …………………......……………...……………………………………… - N. pseudonarcissus L.
¹ Developed by D. Yordanov.From: „Флора на Н. Р. България”, том II, БАН, София, (1964) **** Narcissus is a genus of predominantly spring perennial plants of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae. Various common names including daffodil,[Note 1] narcissus and jonquil are used to describe all or some members of the genus. Narcissus has conspicuous flowers with six petal-like tepals surmounted by a cup- or trumpet-shaped corona. The flowers are generally white or yellow (also orange or pink in garden varieties), with either uniform or contrasting coloured tepals and corona.
Narcissus were well known in ancient civilisation, both medicinally and botanically, but formally described by Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum (1753). The genus is generally considered to have about ten sections with approximately 50 species. The number of species has varied, depending on how they are classified, due to similarity between species and hybridisation. The genus arose some time in the Late Oligocene to Early Miocene epochs, in the Iberian peninsula and adjacent areas of southwest Europe. The exact origin of the name Narcissus is unknown, but it is often linked to a Greek word for intoxicated (narcotic) and the myth of the youth of that name who fell in love with his own reflection. The English word "daffodil" appears to be 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 centre of diversity in the Western Mediterranean, particularly the Iberian peninsula. Both wild and cultivated plants have naturalised widely, and were introduced into the Far East prior to the tenth century. 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, mites and nematodes. Some Narcissus species have become 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 century and by the late 19th century were an important commercial crop centred primarily in the Netherlands. Today narcissi are popular as cut flowers and as ornamental plants in private and public gardens. The long history of breeding has resulted in thousands of different cultivars. For horticultural purposes, narcissi are classified into divisions, covering a wide range of shapes and colours. 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 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 art and literature, narcissi are associated with a number of themes in different cultures, ranging from death to good fortune, and as symbols of spring. The daffodil is the national flower of Wales and the symbol of cancer charities in many countries. The appearance of the wild flowers in spring is associated with festivals in many places.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
****
Distribution in Bulgaria: (Conspectus of the Bulgarian Vascular Flora) = conspectus&gs_l= Zlc. Distribution: References: „Флора на Н. Р. България”, том II, БАН, София, (1964), Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
SPECIES:
Narcissus poëticus L._EN.html - Poet's daffodil, Poet's narcissus, Nargis, Pheasant's eye, Findern flower, and Pinkster lily
Narcissus pseudonarcissus L._EN.html - Wild daffodil, Lent lily
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