Narcissus, commonly called daffodil, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. The scientific name of the plant is often linked to the myth of Narcissus, who became so obsessed with his own reflection in water that he drowned, although it is not clear whether the flower was named after the myth or the myth after the flower. The other common name is jonquil, after a particular species of the family.
Daffodil flowers grow at about a right angle to the stem and have a cup- or trumpet-shaped center surrounded by 6 petal-like tepals (undifferentiated petals and sepals). The flowers can come in a limited variety of colors, most often white and yellow, sometimes orange. Depending on the species, the tepals may be a different color than the center.
In the east, they are considered a symbol of wealth and good fortune, and since they bloom in early spring are often associated with the Chinese New Year. The bulbs are mildly poisonous and must be handled with care but were once a part of traditional Japanese medicine.
