Narcissus tazetta (paperwhite, bunch-flowered narcissus, Bunch-flowered Daffodil, Chinese sacred lily, cream narcissus, joss flower, polyanthus narcissus) is a perennial ornamental plant that grows from a bulb. Cultivars of N. tazetta include 'Paperwhite', 'Grand Soleil d'Or' and 'Ziva', which are popularly used for forcing indoors, as is the form of N. tazetta known as Chinese Sacred Lily.Narcissus tazetta is amongst the tallest of the narcissi, and can grow to a height of up to 80 cm,[5] with thin, flat leaves up to 40 cm long and 15 mm wide. Umbels have as many as 8 flowers, white with a yellow corona
Narcissus tazetta contains a fragrant compound found in only a few other plants, including roses and Acnistus arborescens, called orcinol dimethyl ether, which is almost undetectable to the human nose. Experiments with honeybees have shown they can readily detect it
Narcissus tazetta is a widespread species, native to the Mediterranean region from Portugal to Turkey and across the Middle East , Central Asia , Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan, as well as the Canary Islands, China (Fujian, Zhejiang) and Japan. It is also naturalized in Australia, Korea, Norfolk Island, New Zealand, Bermuda, Mexico and the United States (Oregon, California, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia) and South AmericaNarcissus tazetta is grown commercially for its essential oil, mostly in southern France. An interspecies hybrid, with Narcissus poeticus, is also grown for its essential oil. A recent medicinal use is that a certain protein known as lectin has antiviral properties against influenza. This is based on a dose-dependent manner. The antiviral property results from the fact that it can inhibit RSV during the viral infection cycle and so the problem could not spread. The antiviral activity of the certain lectin group protein will usually have a greater effect during the earlier stages of the influenza. It has little cytotoxicity and great potential as an antiviral agent, so it has potential for further use in biotechnology research in the future. .From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Photos Davlos by George Konstantinou
My father was in the Royal Air Force and we were stationed in Cyprus for 3 years in the early 1960s (from when I was just over 10 to when I was just over 13 years old). I went to school at St. John's School on the army base in Episkopi. I used to take my sandwiches into the bondu at lunchtime and sit among the sage bushes watching the wildlife and studying the flowers. I especially loved the miniature narcissi because they have such a beautiful scent. I remember the wide spreads of multicoloured anemones, little cyclamen on the walls and there were also bee orchids and muscari.
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