Description
( Narcissus triandrus subsp. pallidulus)
This is Narcissus coronatus of some authors. Recent Spanish studies accept coronatus as both a valid species and a valid name. We now list this plant under the name of coronatus.
Narcissus pallidulus is accepted as a valid name by Kew however other herbarium authorities list coronatus is a synonym of some N. hispanicus, a name which other ‘experts’ previously accepted as belonging to a totally different species from the pseudonarcissus group.
This is part of a species complex in the Ganymedes section of Narcissus, which was once thought to comprise one, very variable, species N. triandrus. Current thinking is that there are in fact several species involved and they cab be readily separated by the same features used to separate other Narcissus species.
This is an exclusively Spanish species and it is generally a little smaller in stature than true N. triandrus and it has narrower, deeper green foliage with a different vein pattern on the reverse. The ration of petal length to cup length is also an important diagnostic feature when it comes to separating or defining these species.
It is not a difficult species, as long as its need for a decent, fertile compost with good drainage is met and it is not treated too severely, or kept too dry, especially in summer. This is a plant for outside in the UK, in a suitable spot. Pot it and plunge it, by all means but it is one that will NOT be long-lived for you under glass, even alpine glass, as it does not bear excessive summer-heat and dryness at all well.
