Undeniable Evidence

Day 137: If this scene fails to inspire you to break out the seed catalogs, you're beyond all hope of redemption. Snow or no, the daffodils are solid evidence that Spring is on the way, and every year, their white-petalled, orange-cupped blossoms bring up a discussion of the differences between daffodils, narcissi and jonquils. Okay, let's lay the facts on the table.

To start with, all three terms fall under the scientific name of Narcissus. Colloquially (and therefore not strictly speaking "correctly"), "daffodil" refers to the larger-flowered varieties with long trumpets. Likewise, "narcissus" covers small-flowered species with short trumpets or cups. "Jonquil" refers to those plants which bear more than one flower per stem (again, colloquially). "So what about miniatures? And the ones with half-length trumpets?" you ask. "Narcissi," I reply, because I always default to the scientific name if there's any doubt when someone is asking me for an "official" determination. I'm not fond of common names. They are often shared among completely unrelated species, and can exhibit quite a variety of regional permutations (i.e., Texas "bluebonnets" are a lupine under a pseudonym). Still, no matter what you call them, they announce the arrival of Spring in full voice, a glad invocation against winter's thrall.