Narcissus tazetta explained

Narcissus tazetta (paperwhite, bunch-flowered narcissus, bunch-flowered daffodil, 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.^{[1] [2] [3]}

Description

Narcissus tazetta is amongst the tallest of the narcissi, and can grow to a height of up to, with thin, flat leaves up to long and wide. Umbels have as many as 8 flowers, white with a yellow corona.^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

Taxonomy

Subspecies

Six subspecies are accepted by the World Checklist of Selected Plant Families:^[9]

• N. tazetta subsp. aureus (Jord. & Fourr.) Baker^[10] syn. N. bertolonii – south-east France, Sardinia, north-west Italy, Algeria, Morocco
• N. tazetta subsp. canariensis (Burb.) Baker^[11] – Canary Islands
• N. tazetta subsp. chinensis (M.Roem.) Masam. & Yanagih.^{[12] [13]} – south-east China, Japan, South Korea
• N. tazetta subsp. corcyrensis (Herb.) Baker^[14] – Corfu (Greece)
• N. tazetta subsp. italicus (Ker Gawl.) Baker^[11] 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.^[15]

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)^[16] and South America.^[17]

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.^[18]

Bibliography

Books

• Book: van Kampen et fils. Nicolas. Traité des fleurs à oignons: contenant tout ce qui est nécessaire pour les bien cultiver, fondé sur une expérience de plusieurs années. 1760. Bohn. Harlem. 26 December 2014. French. translated into English as
• Book: van Kampen & Son. Nicolas. The Dutch florist, or, True method of managing all sorts of flowers with bulbous roots. 1764. Baldwin. London. 2. 26 December 2014. translated (Harrison) from French: . 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

• 2406347 . Rivka Dulberger . Flower Dimorphism and Self-Incompatibility in Narcissus tazetta L.. Evolution . 18 . 3 . September 1964 . 361–363 . 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1964.tb01613.x . 88184240 . free .
• ARROYO. JUAN. DAFNI. AMOTS. Variations in habitat, season, flower traits and pollinators in dimorphic Narcissus tazetta L. (Amaryllidaceae) in Israel. New Phytologist. January 1995. 129. 1. 135–145. 10.1111/j.1469-8137.1995.tb03017.x. 33874423. free.
• Krelage. JH. On Polyanthus Narcissi. Journal of the Royal Horticultural Society. 17 April 1890. 12. Daffodil Conference and Exhibition. 339–346. 25 December 2014.
• Ooi. Linda. Narcissus tazetta lectin shows strong inhibitory effects against respiratory syncytial virus, influenza A (H1N1, H3N2, H5N1) and B viruses. Journal of Biosciences (Bangalore). Mar 2010. 35. 1. 95–103. 10.1007/s12038-010-0012-8. 20413914. 30 April 2015. 7091448.

Databases

• The Plant List

External links

• Narcissus tazetta in Israel, Flickr

Notes and References

1. Book: Judith Farr. Louise Carter. The Gardens Of Emily Dickinson. 25 July 2012. 31 October 2005. Harvard University Press. 978-0-674-01829-7. 252.
2. Book: Tovah Martin. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Old-Fashioned Flowers: Classic Blossoms to Grow in Your Garden. registration. 28 July 2012. 1 March 2000. Brooklyn Botanic Garden. 978-1-889538-15-0. 14.
3. Book: H. L. Li. Chinese Flower Arrangement. 28 July 2012. 3 December 2002. Courier Dover Publications. 978-0-486-42316-6. 48.
4. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358309#page/302/mode/1up Linnaeus, Carl von. 1753. Species Plantarum 1: 290 Narcissus tazetta
5. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/9873434#page/159/mode/1up Haworth, Adrian Hardy. 1819. Supplementum Plantarum Succulentarum 142, Hermione tazetta
6. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/7430515#page/367/mode/1up Rafinesque, Constantine Samuel. 1848. Flora Telluriana 4: 21 Jonquilla tazetta
7. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/12313177#page/54/mode/1up Rouy, Georges C. Chr. 1912. Flore de France 13: 40 Narcissus linnaeanus
8. Sessé y Lacasta, Martín & Mociño, José Mariano. 1894. Flora Mexicana ed. 2: 85 Pancratium tazetta
9. Search for "Narcissus tazetta",
10. Baker, John Gilbert. 1888. Handbook of the Amarylldaceae p 9
11. Baker, John Gilbert. 1888. Handbook of the Amarylldaceae p 8
12. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=240001489 Flora of China v 24 p 269, Narcissus tazetta var. chinensis, common name 水仙 shui xian
13. Masamune, Genkei & Yanagihara, Masayuki. 1941. Transactions of the Natural History Society of Formosa 31: 329.
14. Baker, John Gilbert. 1888. Handbook of the Amarylldaceae p 7
15. Book: Natalia Dudareva. Eran Pichersky. Biology of Floral Scent. 27 March 2006. CRC Press. 978-0-8493-2283-9. 95.
16. http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=282289 Kew Checklist of Selected Plant Families
17. http://www.chileflora.com/Florachilena/FloraEnglish/HighResPages/EH1716.htm Chile Flora
18. Book: Nigel Groom. The New Perfume Handbook. 28 July 2012. 30 June 1997. Springer. 978-0-7514-0403-6. 225–226.