Daffodil
(narcissus)
Common
name: Daffodil, narcissus
Botanical name: Narcissus pseudonarcissus
Family: They belong to the larger family Amaryllidaceae which
includes bulbs such as Hippeastrum, Nerines, Clivia, Belladonna
Lily and Day Lily. One of the oldest forms of daffodils is the Lent
Lily, Narcissus pseudonarcissus which grows wild all over Europe's
countryside. Its common name probably comes from its flowering at
Easter in the northern hemisphere.
Origin: There are about 50 species of narcissus which are
native to the Mediterranean.
Description: Strap-shaped leaves coming from the ground. Flowers
have inner trumpet/cup-shaped crown surrounded by yellow, white
&/orange petals, usually with one flower per stem. Very hardy.
Uses: Ornamental flower. Narcissus oil used in perfume manufacture.
Allergy (human): Although beautiful, daffodils have resulted
in severe allergic problems, including death. Symptoms have included
allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma, allergic contact dermatitis,
irritant contact dermatitis (from contact with narcissus sap) and
urticaria. Most patients affected work in the flower industry (bulb
growers, stem pickers or florists) but there are reports of reactions
from contact with narcissus oil used in perfumes and fragrances.
Narcissus contains a number of alkaloids including masonin and homolycorin.
These, in conjunction with crystals of calcium oxalate seem to cause
the characteristic sores.
Other information: Once upon a time . . . in Ancient Greece
lived a young man called Narcissus, who was greatly admired, for
he was very handsome. Narcissus was very proud of his perfect face
and graceful body, and never lost the chance to look at his reflection
in any sheet of water he happened to pass. He would lie for hours
admiring his gleaming dark eyes, slender nose, slim hips and the
mop of curly hair that crowned the perfect oval of his face. You
would think a sculptor had come down from heaven to carve such a
faultless body as a living image of mankind's love of beauty.
One day, Narcissus was walking close to a precipice where the clear
waters of a cold mountain pool mirrored his beautiful face. "You
are handsome, Narcissus!" he told himself as he bent down to
admire his reflection. "There's nobody so handsome in the whole
world! I'd love to kiss you."
Narcissus was suddenly seized by the desire to kiss his own reflection
and he leant closer to the water. But he lost his balance and toppled
into the pool. Narcissus could not swim and so he drowned. But when
the gods discovered that the most beautiful being on earth had died,
they decided that such beauty could not be forgotten. The gods turned
Narcissus into a scented flower which, to this day, blossoms in
the mountains in spring.
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