Carmel presents us with flowers in all seasons. In this column we will always present one of the Carmel flowers, at the same time as it appears in the field, and you will be invited to visit it in one of the places where it blooms.
common daffodil
The daffodil is a geophyte - a perennial plant with an underground storage organ that accumulates materials and water that enable its regeneration. His storage organ is a brown onion. Daffodils have two habitats, one in the mountain and the other in the valley: the mountain daffodils grow in rocky mountainous areas and bloom as single items in the months of November and December. The daffodils of the valley grow in winter puddles and on the edges of marshes. They bloom in great patches from January to March, and give the daffodil the title "King of the Swamp".
Narcissus has between 3 and 15 inflorescences, each inflorescence having 3 to 5 flowers. The flowers have six white petals, and a yellow-orange corolla in the center. The daffodil is well adapted to the rainy season. All parts of the plant repel water, and the corolla protects against water penetration into the nectar.
Narcissus plant ID card
- Family: Narcissists
- root: perennial onion
- height: 25-50 cm
- Leaves: sessile, hollow leaves, arranged in two opposite and parallel rows
- stalk: upright, leafless
- Flowering: Blooms mainly in autumn and winter, between November and March
- flowers: Inflorescence at the top of the stem, 3-10 white flowers with a yellow corolla in the center
- The structure of the flower: 6 white petals and a yellow-orange corolla in the center
- the fruit: the pick that opens into three hards and contains black seeds
- smell: strong and pleasant smell
- nectar: Contains nectar that attracts insects
- uses: Mainly as an ornamental plant and to produce onions for export
- Distribution in the country: Common in the Upper Galilee, Carmel, the Lower Galilee, Sharon, the Lowlands and the Judean Mountains. Rare in the south of the coastal plain, in Samaria and the Negev Mountains.
A place to meet in Narcissus this week
Goat Hill in the continuation of Soroka St. in Ramat Begin.
- Continue on Soroka Street until the bend to Bnei Brit Street.
- Go out through the gate in the pig fence, continue on the path.
- Continue for another 300 meters after the transformation station.
- About 50 meters before the path meets the open area, turn right onto a goat path (which also reaches the open area).
- At the bend of the goat path you can see clusters of common daffodils.
If you go to visit the flower in the company of children, you can tell them the legend of the daffodil.
The legend of the narcissus who fell in love with himself
The legend of Narcissus is one of the most famous legends from Greek mythology, and it deals with a story about beauty, pride and loss. Once upon a time, in the valleys of ancient Greece, a beautiful boy named Narcissus was born. He was the son of the river Elios and the nymph Lyrupa. From the moment of his birth, it was clear that Narcissus was endowed with extraordinary beauty. His face was so perfect that it looked like a work of art, and his hair was like waves of gold glistening in the sun. Everyone who saw him - nymphs, girls, and even boys - fell in love with him immediately.
But Narcissus was arrogant and proud. He didn't notice the love around him, and mocked those who tried to get close to him. One day, Ako, one of the nymphs, fell in love with him. Echo was a captivating nymph, but she suffered from a curse placed on her by the goddess Hera: she could only repeat the words of others, and not speak for herself.
When Echo saw Narcissus wandering in the forest, her heart was filled with hope. She followed him, and tried to get closer. But when she tried to address him, she could only mirror his words. Narcissus mocked her and coldly rejected her. Echo, heartbroken, ran away to the forest and there her body faded from grief, until only her voice remained - it is the echo that returns our voice in nature. The goddess of revenge, Nemesis, saw Narcissus' behavior and decided to punish him for his arrogance.
One day, when he went to drink from a clear spring, Nemesis made him see his reflection in the water. When Narcissus saw his maiden for the first time, he was captivated by her beauty. He didn't realize that it was just his arrival in the water and tried to get closer and touch her. He stayed there, by the water, for many days, staring at his reflection. He could not leave the spectacular sight, and in the end, Narcissus withered from grief and loss. In the place where he died, a white and delicate flower grew - the narcissus flower.