Narcissus and Daffodil

Classification of Narcissus 31
reflect the relationships more clearly. Some examples of species representing the
main sections are illustrated in Figure 3.1.
An additional complication to the taxonomy is posed by hybridisation. Most
species of Narcissus will hybridise but, significantly, there is great variation in the
fertility of the offspring, depending upon the degree of relationship between
the parents. The important cytological work by Fernandes (1951, 1969a,b),
Brandham and Kirton (1987) and Brandham (1992) has done much to clarify the
genetics of the genus. There has been a great deal of hybridisation in this very
popular, garden-worthy genus, resulting in thousands of hybrid cultivars and
selections (Kington, 1998), and doubtless this will continue. Although much of this
work has been concerned with sophisticated selection for flower form and colour
(e.g., pink and red coronas and apricot-coloured perianth segments), there are
probably still some interesting lines of research that could be pursued using the
many wild species. Taking just one possibility as an example, the autumn-flowering
species (Narcissus serotinus, N. elegans and the green-flowered N. viridiflorus) could
perhaps be utilised in the production of a race of larger-flowered autumnal
narcissi, thus extending the overall flowering season of the garden forms by
several months. With the great diversity of characters exhibited by the species and
their numerous variants, there are great possibilities in this natural gene pool.
However, some of the species are under threat in the wild, and many more will
become so with increasing urban and tourist-based development. A good example
is provided by N. cyclamineus, which in recent decades has been one of the most
important species in the production of a wide range of ‘Cyclamineus’ daffodils of
Division 6 in the Horticultural Classification: this species may already be extinct in
the wild, or at best very scarce (Blanchard, 1990). Even in the case of widespread
and well-known species, there are often local variants which could be of potential
in breeding programmes. It is thus essential that steps are taken to ensure the
survival of these wild progenitors of the garden daffodils, so that this valuable
gene pool is not lost or severely depleted.
Although the family Amaryllidaceae as a whole may be seen as primarily tropical
or subtropical in its distribution, the genus Narcissus is to be found largely in
south-western Europe, notably Spain and Portugal, and in North Africa. A few
species extend into France and Italy, and even fewer are found farther east in the
Balkans (N. poeticus, N. serotinus and N. tazetta) and the eastern Mediterranean
(N. serotinus). Records outside this area – for example, N. tazetta variants in western
and central Asia, China and Japan – are almost certainly ancient introductions.
The extent of the natural distribution northwards is also unknown: although there
are apparently wild populations of N. pseudonarcissus or similar species in Britain,
for example, these could well be the result of early introductions that have become
naturalised.
OUTLINE OF CLASSIFICATION
1. Subgenus Narcissus
a. Section Narcissus
b. Section Pseudonarcissus
c. Section Ganymedes