NARCISSUS TAZETTA subsp. TAZETTA

Family:- AMARYLLIDACEAE/Sect. TAZEITAE

Common Names:- Polyanthus narcissus, Rose of Sharon.

Synonyms:- No Homotypic Synonyms. 139 Heterotypic Synonyms.

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

Tazetta (Gr) Little cup.(referring to the corolla).

General description:- Very variable, medium, hairless, bulbous perennial.

Stems:-

a) 20-45 cm.

b) leafless, stout.

Bulb:-

a) up to 50 x 35 mm.

Leaves:-

a) 5-25mm wide.

b) broad strap-shaped, slightly channelled.

c) with a grey-green waxy bloom.

Flowers:-

1) Umbels

a) of 3-7, fragrant flowers.

2) Spathe:

a) 30-50 mm.

b) thin and dry, (scarious).

3) Stalks:

a) unequal, the longest 25-75 mm.

4) Hypanthial tube:

a) 12-18 mm.

5) Perianth-segments:

a) 8-22 mm.

b) spreading, usually broadly ovate and contiguous or overlaping like tiles.

6) Corona:

a) 3-6 x 6-11 mm, about twice as wide as high.

b) yellow or orange.

7) Stamens:

a) upper whorl, protruding beyond the hypanthial tube, at least in part, but

included in the ccorona.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule:

a) with 3 valves.

b) green.

Key features:-

1) Scape compressed, 2-edged.

2) Leaves ± flat, not deeply canaliculate.

3) Flowers usually 3-15.

4) Hypanthial tube 12-18 mm.

5) Perianth pure white.

6) Corona bright to deep yellow.

Habitat:- Meadows, grassy places, cultivated fields, open shrubby ground, rock

crevices. 0-800 m.

Distribution:- Peloponnisos, Ionia. - Mediterranean region. Fairly widespread on

Crete.

Flowering time:- Jan-Apr.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton.