NARCISSUS

Narcissus L., Sp.Pl.1: 289. 1753; Gen. Pl. ed. 5, 141. 1754; Fl. China @eFloras.org 24: 269; Straley & Utech, Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org 26: 294.

Perennial evergreen scapose bulbiferous herbs; bulbs tunicate. Leaves basal, 1-many, linear to ligulate, flat to terete, fleshy. Scape solid. Inflorescence (1-)2-20 flowered umbel on top of scape. Spathe basally tubular, 1-valved at apex. Flowers erect to pendulous, sessile or pedicellate, often fragrant, mostly funnelform. Tepals 6, connate at base, tube short; lobes 6, yellow and/ or white, erect or recurved, subequal; perianth tube surmounted by a cupulate to trumpet-like corona. Stamens 6, inserted in perianth tube, often of 2 lengths; anthers basifixed. Ovary inferior, 3-locular, many ovules per loculus; style filiform, often exserted; stigma minutely 3-lobed. Fruit capsular, 3-locular, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds many, subglobose.

74 species

Narcissus tazetta

Narcissus tazetta L.,Sp.Pl. 1: 290. 1753; Fl. China @ eFloras.org 24: 269; Straley & Utech, Fl. North Amer. @ eFloras.org 26: 296.

Perennial evergreen bulbiferous scapose herbs. Bulbs ovoid, 4-6 cm x 3-5 cm, tunicate. Leaves basal, broadly linear, flat, 20-40 cm x 8-20 mm, glaucous, entire, apex obtuse. Inflorescence umbellate, 4-8-flowered; scape 25-35 cm, solid; spathe 4-6 cm long, membranous, tubular at base, 1-valved at apex, pale brown. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, epigynous, trimerous, fragrant; pedicels show variation up to 8 cm length. Perianth 2-4 cm across, tepals 6, connate at base, perianth tube 1.5-2 cm long, green, glaucous, slender, 3-angled, gradually tapering towards base; lobes spreading to reflexed, white to cream, broadly elliptic to ovate or oblanceolate, 1-2 cm x 0.5-1 cm; apex obtuse or mucronate. Perianth tube surmounted by corona; corona yellow, shallowly cupulate, 3-5 mm x 5-10 mm, ca. less than 1/2 as long as perianth, margin entire or slightly undulate. Stamens 6, inserted in the perianth tube, in 2 lengths of 3 each; 3 stamens small, included within perianth tube and 3 stamens longer, exserted; anthers oblong, dorsifixed. Ovary inferior, 3-angled and 3-locular, many ovules per loculus; style filiform; stigma minutely 3-lobed, exserted.

Fruit a loculicidal capsule. Seeds subglobose. (Fruits not observed)

Flowering and Fruiting: February to March
Common Names: Daffodil, Bunch-flowered Daffodil, Nargis, Narcissus, Bunch-flowered Narcissus, Cream Narcissus, Polyanthus Narcissus, Lent Lily, Chinese Lily, Jonquil, Joss flower, Paper white