Jonquil - introduced (*Narcissus tazetta)

Family: Amaryllceae (formerly included in the Lily family)

Native to Europe and north Africa.

Occurrence: Often persisting in old house sites.

Identification:

• it has green strap-shaped leaves which die down over summer
• the flowers have white petals with a central yellow trumpet
• the flowers are at the end of long stalks.

Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) is similar. It has larger yellow flowers and the central trumpet is a deeper yellow. There is much variation; there are numerous cultivars and double forms.

Photos: 1: Jonquil flowering stem.
2: Daffodil. Castlemine, where it is probably planted.
3: Jonquils persisting in an old house site.
4: Jonquils on Griffiths Island.