Narcissus pseudonarcissus subsp. major (Curtis) Baker

Horticultural & Botanical History

According to Baker, a hybrid received by Alexander Macleay, then Secretary of the Linnaean Society of London, from France in 1819 and named Narcissus macleayi by John Lindley [BR f.762/1823]. ‘The other species, to which we have alluded, was presented to the Society, in 1820, by Alexander Macleay, Esq, from his garden at Tilburster; and is supposed to have been imported from Smyrna. Its appearance was very singular, and resembled a N. Tazetta become dwarf, with an umbel reduced to two flowers. The leaves were broad and green; the scape channelled, ancipitous, and nearly as much flattened as in N. compressus; spathe 1 or 2 flowered; peduncle an inch long, upright, and flattened; germen swollen and oval; tube 5/8 of an inch thick, cylindrical, enlarged at the top and green; petals white, imbricate, at 3/4right angles with the nectary, 3/4 of an inch long, the outer ones broader with a mucro; nectary 5/8 of an inch long, bright yellow, cylindrical, perfectly truncate, without notches or wrinkles. We have distinguished it by a name which will be always respected, so long as science and liberality continue to be objects of esteem.’  [BR f.762/1823]. Baker conisered it to be a sub-species of Narcissus pseudonarcissus rather than a hybrid, a view largely accepted today [Baker Am.].

‘An extremely rare bulbous plant, quite hardy, and flowering in April and May.  Our drawing was made in the Horticultural Society’s Garden.  Supposed to be a native of Smyrna.’  [BR f.987/1826].  William Herbert demonstrated that it was likely to be a cross between Narcissus pseudo-narcissus, and Narcissus tazetta.  [BR f.38/1843]. 

Narcissus macleayii was possibly introduced to British gardens much earlier than the early 19^th century: ‘Old Parkinson describes his “small early white Daffodil with a large cup”. […] From this description, we have little hesitation in giving Parkinson’s plant as synonym of Narcissus macleayi.’  [BM t.2588/1825]. 

History at Camden Park

Listed in all published catalogues [B.344/1843].

Notes