Narcissus tazetta (paperwhite, bunch-flowered narcissus, bunch-flowered daffodil,[1] Chinese sacred lily, cream narcissus, joss flower, polyanthus narcissus) is a perennial ornamental plant that grows from a bulb. Cultivars of N. tazetta include 'Caniculatus', 'Grand Soleil d'Or' and 'Ziva', which are popularly used for forcing indoors, as is the form of N. tazetta known as Chinese Sacred Lily.[2][3][4]
| Narcissus tazetta | |
|---|---|
 | |
| In Israel | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Amaryllidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Amaryllidoideae |
| Genus: | Narcissus |
| Species: | N. tazetta |
| Binomial name | |
| Narcissus tazetta | |
Description
Narcissus tazetta is amongst the tallest of the narcissi, and can grow to a height of up to 80 centimetres (31 in),[5] with thin, flat leaves up to 40 centimetres (16 in) long and 15 millimetres (0.59 in) wide. Umbels have as many as 8 flowers, white with a yellow corona.[6][7][8][9][10]
Taxonomy
Subspecies
Six subspecies are accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families:[11]
- N. tazetta subsp. aureus (Jord. & Fourr.) Baker[12] syn. N. bertolonii – south-east France, Sardinia, north-west Italy, Algeria, Morocco
- N. tazetta subsp. canariensis (Burb.) Baker[13] – Canary Islands
- N. tazetta subsp. chinensis (M.Roem.) Masam. & Yanagih.[14][15] – south-east China, Japan, South Korea
- N. tazetta subsp. corcyrensis (Herb.) Baker[16] – Corfu (Greece)
- N. tazetta subsp. italicus (Ker Gawl.) Baker[13] syn. N. italicus – Mediterranean from southern France to Greece
- N. tazetta subsp. tazetta – widely distributed from the western Mediterranean to Afghanistan
Ecology
Narcissus tazetta contains a fragrant compound found in only a few other plants, including roses and Acnistus arborescens, called orcinol dimethyl ether, which is almost undetectable to the human nose. Experiments with honeybees have shown they can readily detect it.[17]
Distribution
Narcissus tazetta is a widespread species, native to the Mediterranean region from Portugal to Turkey. It is also naturalized across the Middle East, Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan, as well as the Canary Islands, China (Fujian, Zhejiang), Japan, Australia, Korea, Norfolk Island, New Zealand, Bermuda, Mexico and the United States (Oregon, California, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia)[18] and South America.[19]
Uses
Narcissus tazetta is grown commercially for its essential oil, mostly in southern France. An interspecies hybrid, with Narcissus poeticus, is also grown for its essential oil.[20]
References
Bibliography
- van Kampen et fils, Nicolas (1760). Traité des fleurs à oignons: contenant tout ce qui est nécessaire pour les bien cultiver, fondé sur une expérience de plusieurs années (in French). Harlem: Bohn. Retrieved 26 December 2014. translated into English as (van Kampen & Son 1764)
- van Kampen & Son, Nicolas (1764). The Dutch florist, or, True method of managing all sorts of flowers with bulbous roots (translated (Harrison) from French: (van Kampen et fils 1760)) (2 ed.). London: Baldwin. Retrieved 26 December 2014.
Next to the Hyacinths, Tulips, Ranunculuses, and Anemones, of which we have treated already, the Polyanthus Narcissus holds the first place and demands our chief attention
Articles
- Rivka Dulberger (September 1964). "Flower Dimorphism and Self-Incompatibility in Narcissus tazetta L." Evolution. 18 (3): 361–363. doi:10.1111/j.1558-5646.1964.tb01613.x. JSTOR 2406347. S2CID 88184240.
- ARROYO, JUAN; DAFNI, AMOTS (January 1995). "Variations in habitat, season, flower traits and pollinators in dimorphic Narcissus tazetta L. (Amaryllidaceae) in Israel". New Phytologist. 129 (1): 135–145. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.1995.tb03017.x. PMID 33874423.
- Krelage, JH (17 April 1890). "On Polyanthus Narcissi". Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society. 12 (Daffodil Conference and Exhibition): 339–346. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- Ooi, Linda (Mar 2010). "Narcissus tazetta lectin shows strong inhibitory effects against respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A (H1N1, H3N2, H5N1) and B viruses". Journal of Biosciences (Bangalore). 35 (1): 95–103. doi:10.1007/s12038-010-0012-8. PMC 7091448. PMID 20413914. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
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