Flower Garden

Daffodil

Scientific Classification

Scientific Name  - Narcissus geranium

Domain                - Eukaryota

Kingdom              - Plantae

Phylum                - Magnoliophyta

Class                     - Liliopsida

Order                    - Asparagalos

Family                  - Amaryllidaceae

Genus                   - Narcissus

Species                 - N.geranium

Also known as the daffodil, this flower is the impetus for the origin of the term narcissism. Per Geek mythology, Narcissus was a young hunter who was well known to be very attractive. Narcissus flowers are also seen to represent creativity, inspiration, awareness and inner reflection, forgiveness and vitality. They multiply quickly and return to bloom again each spring, year after year. If you give a bunch of narcissi to a loved one it means " they're the only one " and is said to ensure happiness.

The Narcissus flower is a perennial in the daffodil family. It is native to Europe and Asia, although it is now found throughout most of the world. Daffodils grows easily in most regions of North America, except in the hottest, wettest areas, such as South Florida. The plant grows from bulbs and can grow up to 15 feet high. The flowers are bell-shapped and can be white, yellow, orange, or red. Once the daffodil flower blooms it can be last for several weeks. Daffodils are true bulbs and like all true bulbs are perennial, with a life span of three to five years, during which time they self-propagate.

A decoction of the dried flowers acts as an emetic, and has been considered useful for relieving the congestive bronchial catarrh of children, and also useful for epidemic dysentery, In France, Narcissus flowers have been used as an antispasmodic.

All parts of the daffodil contain a toxic chemical, lycorine. The parts of the plant that contains the highest concentration of lycorine is the bulb. However, eating any part of the plant can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. These symptoms usually last about 3 hours.

They provide nectar for early season pollinators, which in turn can improve the pollination of fruit trees for better fruit set, if they flower at the same time. That is one reason why daffodils are often planted in fruit tree guilds. 

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