Narcissus Février/February 2016

[Matt T]

A terrible photograph of Narcissus scaberulus aff. I definitely am uncertain! I thought that this might be a good time to ask the experts on this thread if there is a good on-line key to the Genus Narcissus in English? If this is not possible maybe there is a good book on the subject (in English too)? Not only a key, but also botanical descriptions would be helpful.

Over the years I have received seed from various seed exchanges of many "species". Much is garden seed - perhaps of questionable purity as to a species. Any comments on this? Wild seed seems difficult to obtain, at least here in my part of California. What little there is seems in very high demand. Any thoughts on this one?

If I am going to photograph these tiny flowers an up-grade to my present camera would be extremely helpful. I will have to find out if there is another thread that deals with such technical issues.

In advance, thank you (all) for your help. 

The best reference I can recommend is John W. Blanchards 'Narcissus: a Guide to Wild Daffodils'. Published by the AGS it is out of print now but second-hand copies can be found via the usual means. Key are included where they are workable, but the descriptions (including comparisons with similar species) are very useful. There's also a wealth of contextual information, stories from his travel in their habitats etc. Do acquire a copy if you can, Robert.

Is the scape Are the leaves smooth or rough to the touch? Run a finger up and down the base of the flower stem leaves - in N.scaberulus it should feel rough.

[annew]

A terrible photograph of Narcissus scaberulus aff. I definitely am uncertain! I thought that this might be a good time to ask the experts on this thread if there is a good on-line key to the Genus Narcissus in English? If this is not possible maybe there is a good book on the subject (in English too)? Not only a key, but also botanical descriptions would be helpful.

Over the years I have received seed from various seed exchanges of many "species". Much is garden seed - perhaps of questionable purity as to a species. Any comments on this? Wild seed seems difficult to obtain, at least here in my part of California. What little there is seems in very high demand. Any thoughts on this one?

If I am going to photograph these tiny flowers an up-grade to my present camera would be extremely helpful. I will have to find out if there is another thread that deals with such technical issues.

In advance, thank you (all) for your help. 

If ONLY there were an up to date key. I think it is being worked upon in sections at present. Until then we have only John Blanchard's book I think, unless someone knows better?
In the Daffodil, Snowdrop and Tulip Yearbook 2014 there is a translation of a key to Narcissus species from the Flora Iberica 2013.

[Robert]

Anne and Matt,

Thank you so much for the information. I can get John Blanchard's Narcissus book at our public library. I did scan the key, however there is so much more information I need. It would be a good idea if I could buy the book. Hopefully something more up-dated will be coming out soon.

As for Narcissus scaberulus, is there anything morphological that I can check with a hand lens that accounts for the rough texture of the leaf? It is indeed rough. The original seed lot also had a collection number.

Most likely I will need to ask some "bonehead" questions from time-to-time until I get up to speed with this Genus.

Thank you again for your help! 

[Matt T]

Happy to help, Robert.

Blanchard says for N.scaberulus: "leaves 4-angled, sometimes minutely scabrid [with rough edges - you might well be able to see this with a strong hand lens], scape cyclidrical or elliptic 6-ridged, corona tending to incurve at margin [usually]"

Other features that may help confirm ID are a pedicel to 25mm/1" (only 10mm in N.calcicola) and the petals are rather narrow - "3mm wide, 7mm high"[sic] compared to N.calcicola "7mm broad, 8mm long".

[YT]

I bought 3 bulbs as Narcissus ‘Atlas Gold’ from a nursery and result is...
The thing is I haven't seen real ‘Atlas Gold’ ever

[Maggi Young]

For comparison, this is Potterton's photo of 'Atlas Gold'

[Robert]

Matt,

Thank you for the additional information. I have yet to print-out the scanned pages from John Blanchard's book. However, will be checking this in the next day or two. 

[annew]

I bought 3 bulbs as Narcissus ‘Atlas Gold’ from a nursery and result is...
The thing is I haven't seen real ‘Atlas Gold’ ever

I think they are probably seedlings from Atlas Gold.

[YT]

For comparison, this is Potterton's photo of 'Atlas Gold'

Thanks, Maggi.

I think they are probably seedlings from Atlas Gold.

Yes, I agree with you, Anne.

[Rafa]

from Cordoba, Spain.
Narcissus jonquilla in a very different ecology

[Rafa]

more pics, the same N. jonquilla, N. x hervasii nothhovar. hervasii (mother N. truiandrus subsp. pallidulus) and then N. cantabricus and N. fernandesii hybrids in both directions

[Rafa]

more hybrids and parents

[Rafa]

finally all together
 
N. cantabricus
N. triandrus subsp. pallidulus
N. x susannae
N. fernandesii
N. fernandesii x N. cantabricus

also a bad picture comparing N. x susannae with N. fernandesii x N. cantabricus

[johnstephen29]

Great photos of some lovely narcissus Rafa.

[fermi de Sousa]

Great to see these in the wild, Rafa,
thanks for sharing the pics,
cheers
fermi