Narcissus pachybolbus

Hi James and all,

I always find it helpful to read the original description for the species and then compare what I am growing to decide if it is true to name taking into consideration variation in the species. I never take the word of a grower.

Michael Charles Durieu de Maisonneuve on Page 425 in Ducharte’s Revue Botanique Recuel Mensuel writes the following original description for Narcissus pachybolbus:

“Glaucescens; bulbo maximo ovato; foliis longe vaginatis, late linearibus, subcarinatis, obtusis; scapo foliorum longitudine, multifloro, ancipiti-compresso; pedicellis triquetris; perigonii (parvi, odori, omnino albi) laciniis rotundato-ovatis, quadruplam coronam cyathiformem integram longis, tubo paulo brevioribus, exterioribus mucronatis, interioribus muticis obtusissimis.

Ce Narcisse diffère de toutes les espèces du groupe Tazetta, par le volume de son bulbe, la petitesse de ses fleurs entièrement blanches et la brièveté de leur tube. Il croît à Oran, dans les lieux incultes mais fertiles de la plaine.” 

Unfortunately the flower pictured in the Wisley collection more closely resembles N. panizzianus of Parlatore. Additional Icones may be found in Burbidge and Baker The Narcissus Plates 35 (N. papyraceus), 36 (N. pannizzianus), and 39 (N. pachybolbus).

Marilynn Howe