Narcissus daffodil jonquil

Introduction

Narcissus  is a spring-flowering, bulbous perennial plants which belong to Amaryllidaceae family. this flower is famous with different  names including daffodil, narcissus jonquil and Lent ,lily  The flowers of Narcissus are conspicuous and brightly colored, with a basal segment of six petal-like  a bowl-shaped corona, often referred to as the 'trumpet'. The flowers are generally white or yellow (rarely green), extending to orange and pink in garden hybrid cultivars, Species of Narcissus were well known to the ancients both medicinally and botanically, The exact origin of the name Narcissus is unknown, but it is often linked to a Greek word for intoxicated In general, narcissi tend to be long-lived bulbs which propagate by division, but the flowers are also insect pollinated Long celebrated in art and literature, the 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

Description

The narcissus flower grow to from 5–80 cm tall depending on the species. Dwarf species such as N. asturiensis have a maximum height of only 5–8 cm, while N. italicus (N. tazetta ssp. italicus) may grow as tall as 80 cm.The plants are scapose, having a single central leafless hollow flower stem. There are several green or blue-green, narrow, strap-shaped leaves that arise from the bulb. The plant stem usually bears a solitary flower, The fruit consists of a dry capsule that splits (dehisces) releasing numerous black seedsThe bulb lies dormant after the leaves and flower stem die back and has contractile roots that pull it down further into the soil. The flower stem and leaves form in the bulb to emerge the following season. Most species are dormant from summer to late winter, flowering in the spring, though a few species are autumn flowering.

bulb

Bulbs

The pale brown-skinned ovoid tunicate bulbs have a membranous tunic and corky base plate from which arise the root hairs in a ring around the edge, which grow up to 40 cm in length. The flower stalk which will start to grow in the following spring, develops within the bulb surrounded by two to three deciduous leaves and their sheaths. The flower stem lies in the axil of the second true leaf.

Stems

The single leafless stem or scape, appearing from early to late spring depending on the species, bears from 1 to 20 blooms. Stem shape depends on the species, some are highly compressed with a visible seam, while others are rounded. The stems are upright and located at the centre of the leaves After flowering the leaves turn yellow and die back once the seed pod is ripe.

Inflorescence

The inflorescence is scapose, the single stem or scape bearing either a solitary flower or forming an umbel with up to 20 blooms.

Flowers

The flowers of Narcissus are hermaphrodite, solitary to umbellate, and sometimes fragrant.. Narcissus flowers are characterised by their, usually conspicuous, corona (trumpet).

Fruit

The fruit consists of dehiscent loculicidal ellipsoid to subglobose capsules and is papery to leathery.

Seeds

The fruit contains numerous sub globose seeds which are round and swollen with a hard coat, sometimes with anelaiosome. The testa is black and the pericarp dry.Most species have 12 ovules and 36 seeds, although some species such as N. bulbocodium have more, up to a maximum of 60. Seeds take five to six weeks to mature.

Propagation

The commonest form of commercial propagation is by twin-scaling, in which the bulbs are cut into many small pieces in which two scales are still connected by a small fragment of the basal plate. The fragments are disinfected and placed on nutrient media. About 25 - 35 new plants can be produced from a single bulb after four years.

Breeding

For commercial use, varieties with a minimum stem length of 30 cm are sought, making them ideal for cut flowers. Florists require blooms that only open when they reach the retail outlet. For garden plants the objectives are to continually expand the colour palette and to produce hardy forms, and there is a particular demand for miniature varieties.

Uses

Traditional medicine

Like other members of their family, narcissi produce a number of different alkaloids, which while providing some protection for the plant, may be poisonous if accidentally ingested. However, this property has been exploited for medicinal use in traditional healing and has resulted in the production of galanthamine for the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia.

Biological properties

Extracts of Narcissus have demonstrated a number of potentially useful biological properties including antiviral,prophage induction, antibacterial, antifungal, antimalarial, insecticidal, cytotoxic, antitumor, antimitotic, antiplatelet,hypotensive, emetic, acetylcholine esterase inhibitory, antifertility, antinociceptive, chronotropic, pheromone, plant growth inhibitor, and allelopathic

Commercial uses

Throughout history the scent of narcissi has been an important ingredient of perfumes, a quality that comes from essential oils rather than alkaloids and used as cut flowers

Symbols

The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, The narcissus is perceived in the West as a symbol of vanity, in the East as a symbol of wealth and good fortune