Narcissus and Daffodil

Classification of Narcissus 43
perianth tube 1.2–2.5 cm long; segments and corona wholly white; corona cupshaped,
usually 2–4 mm deep, slightly crenulate at the margin. South Europe
and North Africa; widespread in the central and western Mediterranean region,
westwards to Portugal.
The following have been treated as variants of N. papyraceus or as separate
species:
N. barlae Parlatore. Leaves very grey-green. Flowers 2–2.5 cm diameter. Probably
conspecific with N. panizzianus (see below).
N. canariensis Burbidge. Leaves greyish-green. Flowers small (at most 1.5 cm
diameter) with pointed petals. Canary Islands.
N. pachybolbos Durieu. Bulb very large (5–7 cm diameter at maturity). Leaves pale
grey-green. Flowers 1.5–2 cm diameter, corona less than a third as long as perianth
segments. Algeria, Morocco.
N. panizzianus Parlatore. Leaves grey-green. Scape very strongly compressed,
two-edged. Flowers 2–2.5 cm diameter; perianth segments pointed. South-east
France, Italy, Spain, Portugal.
N. polyanthus Loiseleur. Leaves green. Scape terete. Flowers 2.5–4 cm diameter;
corona entire. Southern France.
The following two, although wholly white-flowered, appear to be sufficiently distinct
from N. papyraceus and its relatives to merit specific status:
N. dubius Gouan. Leaves dark green, slightly glaucous, 3–5 mm wide. Scape to
20 cm. Flowers up to six in each umbel, 1.5–2 cm diameter; perianth tube 1–1.4 cm
long; corona half as long as petals, ca. 4 mm deep. Southern France, north-eastern
Spain.
Note: Cytological investigations suggest that this has arisen by hybridisation
between N. assoanus and N. papyraceus, but since it is now established over a wide
area it is probably best regarded as a species in its own right. Although included
here in subsection Hermione, there is a case for a separate subsection to house it.
N. tortifolius Casas. Leaves grey-green, twisted lengthwise, 5–8 mm wide. Scape
terete-elliptical in section, to 28 cm. Flowers up to 16 in each umbel, about 1.5 cm
diameter; perianth tube ca. 10 mm long; corona ca. 2 mm deep. South-eastern
Spain.
2a(ii). Subsection Angustifolii (A. Fernandes) F.J. Fernández Casas
Description: Leaves narrow (usually under 0.5 cm wide), flat or subterete. Flowers
autumnal; corona very shallow, 2 mm or less deep.
Type species: N. elegans (Haw.) Spach.
N. elegans (Haw.) Spach. Scape ca. 20 cm. Leaves usually 2–5 mm wide, flattish
or subterete, grey-green. Flowers autumnal, fragrant, up to seven in an umbel,
2.5–3.5 cm in diameter; perianth segments white, cream or greenish-white; corona
a shallow cup 1.5–2 mm deep with an incurved margin, green, greenish-brown
or orange. West and south Italy, Sicily, Algeria, Libya, Morocco.