Narcissus obsoletus (Haw.) Steud.
Family: AMARYLLIDACEAE
Genus: Narcissus
Catalan common name: Narcís. Ninou tardà.
Spanish common name: Narciso.
Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.
Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Dragonera.
General distribution (Phytogeography): South Mediterranean
IUCN Category: Least concern
Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Life-forms: Geophyte.
Habitats: Wild olive trees and other sclerophyllous shrublands. Juniperus phoenicea subsp. turbinata forest. Therophytic calicole fields. Pine woodlands and garriques.
Characteristics: At the beginning of autumn we can find this narcissus in flower, often accompanying other autumn flowering geophytes (Merendera filifolia, Scilla automnalis). Flowers have a mild aroma, with white petals and small yellow corona. Leaves emerge after flowering, have a cylindrical cross section that is very similar to the stems. Narcissus elegans is slightly similar, but this latter species is larger, has caniculated leaves that emerge simulatenously with flowering; additionally, this plant is very rare in Mallorca.
Observations: Usually this species has been known as N. serotinus in the Balearic Islands. Following works, however, keep this name for plants that have pale yellow crown subdivided in 6 lobes and that grow in the western Iberian peninsula. In Mediterranean areas and in the Balearic Islands, the species present is N. obsoletus , that has intense yellow crown in mature flowers and, moreover, it is continuous or subdivided in 3 lobes.