What is the history of narcissus. The bulbs.?

Greek mythology gives us the term narcissus. There was a young Greek named Narcissus. A nymph called Echo was in love with him, but Narcissus broke off the relationship. Heartbroken she hid in a cave and died. Later Narcissus, who was very handsome and quite taken with himself, saw his face in a pool, and as he leaned over to see better, fell in and drowned and became the flower.


Narcissus bulbocodium is naturalised on the Alpine Meadow and flowering specimens can also be seen during February and March in the Alpine House, where their delicate flowers can be protected from the inclement weather. Many other Narcissus species can also be seen in the Alpine House, and there are over a thousand different daffodils growing throughout the gardens.


Narcissus





There are about 50 species of Narcissus found in a variety of habitats in Europe and North Africa from sea level to subalpine meadows, woodlands and rocky places, with Spain hosting the greatest variety.


Due to their popularity as cultivated plants many thousands of cultivars have been bred by growers around the world. All of these are grown for their attractive flowers, borne in spring, or less frequently autumn or winter. The flowers are mostly yellow or white but can occasionally be green in some species. Some have brightly coloured coronas (the distinctive cup or trumpet) which may be red, orange or pink.


Although the name daffodil is often applied only to the larger trumpet-flowered cultivars, with the short-cupped and multi-headed cultivars referred to as narcissi, breeders and other enthusiasts refer to all kinds as daffodils.


Daffodils were introduced into gardens at a very early stage in the history of man. The Greek Theophrastus listed and described many of the earliest known kinds in about 300 BC, though it was not until the 19th century that classification of the many species was attempted. One notable point in history is 1884 when the first daffodil conference of the Royal Horticultural Society was held and its Narcissus and Tulip Committee was formed (now called the Daffodil and Tulip Committee).


Narcissus bulbocodium





Commonly called the hoop-petticoat daffodil, along with several other species, Narcissus bulbocodium is native to Western France, Spain, Portugal and Morocco and is by far the most common and widespread of the hoop-petticoat daffodils.


It grows in a variety of situations from near sea-level in France and Portugal to over 3,000m in the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco. It prefers an acid soil which retains plenty of moisture in the spring growing season.


It has narrow, dark green leaves between 10-40cm (4-16in) long and bears funnel-shaped deep yellow flowers 3.5cm ((11/2in) across, with expanded trumpets. Several localised subspecies and varieties exist in which the flower colour varies from pale yellow with green markings to deep primrose yellow.