Angel's tears
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Genus: Narcissus
Species:
N. triandrus
Binomial name
Narcissus triandrus
L.
Synonyms[1]
  • Ganymedes triandrus (L.) Haw.
  • Illus triandrus (L.) Haw.
  • Queltia triandra (L.) M. Roem.

Narcissus triandrus, also known as the Angel's Tears daffodil, is a species of flowering plant within the family Amaryllidaceae.

The popular cultivar 'Hawera', belonging to the Triandrus group, has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[2]

Description

Narcissus triandrus is a bulbous perennial plant. The bulbs of this species are small and dark in colour.[3] Bulbs lay dormant in the soil for the majority of the year until emerging in the Spring. A single bulb usually produces two leaves each that can grow to a length of 20 cm long by 4–5 mm wide. Leaves are keeled, striate on their surface and sometimes coiled at the tip.[4] Stems of the species are 30 cm tall, thick, tubular, and almost waxy on their outer side.[5] Stems can hold from one to six cup shaped flowers, which are milk white or pale yellow in colour.[4]

Reproduction

The flower size varies, increasing from southeast to northwest, correlating with plant size, probably reflecting a rainfall gradient from the hot Mediterranean climate of the southeast to the cooler, wetter Atlantic climate found in the northwest. Changes in flower size correlate with pollinator fauna, Anthophora species being dominant in the southern population and the larger-bodied Bombus species in the north.[6]

Self-pollination was found to result in significantly lower seed production than in cross-pollination within Narcissus triandrus.[7]

Distribution and habitat

Native to France, Spain and Portugal,[8] where it grows in woodlands, scrubland and exposed mountain habitats in acidic soils.[4]

It has been observed to grow in scrublands, mesophilic grasslands, sandy soils, including some more rocky areas. In Europe, the plant has been spotted in the Iberian peninsula, the Iberian and Aracena Mountains, as well as the Baetic and Penibaetic mountain systems and the Serra de Monchique.

Cultivation

N. triandrus 'Thalia', a variety that bears open, nodding flowers

While not a very popular species of the daffodil, these plants have similar care and blooming needs.[9] They are low maintenance plants that require full sun, or part shade, medium water (meaning that the soil should be watered until damp, then left to dry and once dry, watered lightly again).[9] The species is tolerant of rabbits, deer, and drought.[9] This aversion towards disease and pests is known to be from the plant's high alkaloid and lycorine content.[10]

Flowering in late spring, April through May, it is best that these plants are planted above summer blooming buds, yet below early spring bloomers.[10] It is suggested that these plants be potted or placed in soft, well drained ground in late fall.[9] If planted deep enough (two to three times deeper than the bulbs original length) then it should retain its moisture and last through the winter.[9] And, while these flowers do like shady areas, it is better for them to be placed in full sun or in an area that gets sun throughout most of the day, this is because of the flowers of like to point towards and be in the sun's light as much as possible.[9]

Subspecies [8]

  • Narcissus triandrus subsp. triandrus
  • Narcissus triandrus subsp. lusitanicus
  • Narcissus triandrus subsp. pallidulus

Varieties [4]

  • Narcissus triandrus var. cernuus
  • Narcissus triandrus var. con-color
  • Naricissus triandrus var. loiseleurii

References

  1. Tropicos
  2. "Narcissus 'Hawera' (5)". Royal Horticultural Society. 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  3. Köhlein, Menzel, Fritz, Peter (1994). Color Encyclopedia of Garden Plants and Habitats. Timber Press. p. 206. ISBN 9780881922981.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Narcissus triandrus". Alpine Garden Society. 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  5. Burbidge, F. W. (1875). The Narcissus: Its History and Culture with Coloured Plates and Descriptions of All Known Species and Principal Varieties. Henrietta Street, London: L. Reeve & Co. pp. 57–58.
  6. Barrett, Harder, Spencer C H, Lawrence D (2022-06-20). "The evolution of polymorphic sexual systems in daffodils (Narcissus)". New Phytologist. 165 (1): 45–53. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2004.01183.x. PMID 15720619. Retrieved 2022-06-20.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. Sage, Tammy L.; Strumas, Fanny; Cole, William W.; Barrett, Spencer C. H. (1999-06-01). "Differential ovule development following self- and cross-pollination: the basis of self-sterility in Narcissus triandrus (Amaryllidaceae)". American Journal of Botany. 86 (6): 855–870. doi:10.2307/2656706. JSTOR 2656706. PMID 10371727.
  8. 1 2 "Narcissus triandrus L." powo.science.kew.org. 2022-06-20. Retrieved 2022-06-20.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Triandrus Narcissus Group". Gardenia.net. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  10. 1 2 "Narcissus triandrus (Orchid Daffodil) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
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