A genus of spring-flowering bulbs with white or yellow flowers, including daffodils and jonquils. The flowers typically have six petals surrounding a central corona or cup.
From Latin narcissus, borrowed from Greek νάρκισσος (narkissos). The Greek word is thought to derive from νάρκη (narkē) meaning 'numbness' or 'stupor,' possibly referring to the plant's narcotic properties. However, some scholars trace it further back to a pre-Greek Mediterranean language, possibly related to Semitic roots.
The narcissus flower was named after the mythological youth Narcissus who fell in love with his own reflection, but the plant was actually known for its medicinal properties long before the myth was created! Ancient Greeks used narcissus bulbs as a painkiller and sedative, which explains why the name comes from 'narkē' meaning numbness - the same root that gives us 'narcotic.'
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