NARCISSUS OBSOLETUS

Family:- AMARYLLIDACEAE/Sect. SEROTINI

Common Names:- Autumn narcissus

Synonyms:- Hermione obsoleta, Narcissus autumnalis subsp. obsoletus,

Narcissus elegans var. obsoletus, Narcissus serotinus var. obsoletus.

Meaning:- Narcissus (Gr) After a youth in Greek mythology.

Obsoletus (L) Rudimentary, decayed, worn out.

General description:- Bulbous, flowering in autumn.perennials, with basal leaves.

Stems:-

a) 7-20(-30) mm.

b) hollow, leafless.

c) carrying one or several flowers.

Bulb:-

a) 5-25 x 12-20 mm.

Leaves:-

a) 10-20 cm x 1 mm.

b) cylindrical.

c) covered somewhat with a waxy bloom (glaucous),

d) 1-2, on non-flowering bulbs, usually absent from a bulb which has flowered.

Flowers:-

a) solitary, or occasionally paired.

b) erect.

c) fragrant.

1) Spathe:

a) 15-35 mm.

b) thin and transparent (hyaline), tubular in lower half.

2) Hypanthial tube:

a) 12-20 mm.

3) Perianth-segments:

a) 10-16 x 3-7 mm.

b) oblong-lance-shaped, spreading (patent).

c) white.

4) Corona:

a) 1-1·5 x 3-4 mm.

b) 6-lobed.

c) orange.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule:

a) 10mm long and 4-5 mm diam.

b) with 3 valves.

c) green.

Key features:-

1) Leaves c. 1 mm wide, not present during the time when the flower is fully open

(anthesis).

2) Flowers solitary or in umbels of 2-3.

Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, open pinewoods, rocky limestone flats,

mainly around coastal areas. 0-400(700) m.

Distribution:- Scattered in S Greece. - Mediterranean region. Scattered distribution

mainly around the coastal regions of Crete.

Flowering time:- Oct-Dec.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton