NARCISSUS OBSOLETUS

Family and Genus:- See- AMARYLLIDACEAE/Sect. SEROTINI

Common Names:- Autumn narcissus

Homotypic Synonyms:- Hermione obsoleta, Narcissus autumnalis subsp.

obsoletus, Narcissus elegans var. obsoletus, Narcissus serotinus var.

obsoletus.

Meaning:- Narcissus (Gr) After a youth in Greek mythology.

Obsoletus (L) Rudimentary, decayed, worn out.

General description:- Bulbous, flowering in autumn.perennials, with basal leaves.

Stems:-

1) 7-20(-30) mm, hollow, leafless, carrying one or several flowers.

Bulb:-

1) 5-25 x 12-20 mm.

Leaves:-

1) 10-20 cm x 1 mm, cylindrical, glaucous, 1-2, on non-flowering bulbs, usually

absent from a bulb which has flowered.

Flowers:-

1) Solitary, or occasionally paired, erect, fragrant.

2) Spathe, 15-35 mm, hyaline, tubular in the lower half.

3) Hypanthial tube, 12-20 mm.

4) Perianth-segments, 10-16 x 3-7 mm, oblong-lanceolate, patent, white.

4) Corona, 1-1·5 x 3-4 mm, 6-lobed. orange.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule,10mm long and 4-5 mm diam, with 3 valves. green.

Key features:-

1) Leaves, c. 1 mm wide, not present during anthesis.

2) Flowers, solitary or in umbels of 2-3.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Dry open shrubby vegetation, open pinewoods, rocky limestone flats,

mainly around coastal areas. 0-400(700) m.

Distribution:- Scattered in S Greece. - Mediterranean region. Scattered distribution

mainly around the coastal regions of Crete.

Flowering time:- Oct-Dec.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton