Family - Liliaceae

Stems - From bulb. Aerial stems to +40cm tall, glabrous.

Leaves - Basal, linear, -1cm broad, +50cm long, glabrous.

Inflorescence - Typically single flower terminating aerial stem, nodding.

Flowers - Tepals 6, fused at base forming green floral tube to 3cm long, 5mm in diameter. Showy portions (lobes) of perianth 2.6cm broad, +3cm long, truncate or obtuse at apex with small mucronate projection, glabrous, white. Corona (floral cup) fringed with red, yellow below, 1.3cm in diameter, margin crisped, 2-4mm long. Stamens 6, borne near opening of perianth tube. Style 1, 3cm long, glabrous. Ovary inferior, +/-1.8cm long, +/-1cm broad, glabrous, with 3 locules, many seeded, placentation axile.

Bract of flower.

Flowering - March - May.

Habitat - Cultivated but escaped to fields, disturbed sites, open woods, roadsides.

Origin - Native to Europe.

Other info. - This species is not nearly as common as its relative N. pseudonarcissus L., the Daffodil, but it is still fairly common and found in many areas throughout the state. The floral cup - corona - is much smaller than in N. pseudonarcissus and the perianth lobes are white instead of the typical yellow of N. pseudonarcissus.

Photographs taken off Willis Ave., Columbia, MO., 4-1-04.