A number of the autumn daffodils are up and starting to flower. Among the first is always N. broussonettii which always emerges from the ground within a few days of the first watering and can be in flower several days later. Because it has no corona, it used to be in its own section aurelia but modern DNA now places it close to N. papyraceous.
Below is a row of third generation N. elegans, beginning to flower, selected for shape. the name will probably be changed soon to N. obsoletus an earlier name. These are tazettas that will have sun proof coronas, that open green and then change to a rich orange. It is the one other species in the genus besides N. poeticus to make orange/red carotenoids. The pigment in N. obsoletus has not been analysed yet.
Hybrids between selected forms of N. cavanillesii and N. miniatus are also starting. They open up ranging in color from white to yellow but the latter eventually fade to white. The natural hybrid between these two species is called N. x perezlerae.
Finally here is a flower not quite fully open, of N. miniatus, that has been line bred through four generations for good perianth shape and form. Narcissus miniatus inherits the green turning orange corona from its N. obsoletus ancestor.
Harold
Hi Harold,
Fantastic photos. It is great to see these autumn daffodils. I have just bought Seasons Greetings from Ringhaddy and hoping to have a great bloom for Christmas day. Fingers crossed.
Thanks again for adding the photos and keeping them coming.
Dave