Wild daffodils

 Wild daffodils on the woodland path by the hotel.

Spring is on its way and with it, early spring flowers including daffodils are starting to bloom. In Asturias there are four different species of Narcissus, three of which I have seen recently. On the short walk starting from the Hotel to the Santa Marina chapel there are plenty of Narcissus leonensis or Narcissus pseudonarcissus growing by the stream.

Narcissus leonensis growing on the woodland path by the hotel.

In Asturias there are four species of daffodils or Narcissus. Narcissus pseudonarcissus known in this area as Narcissus leonensis is the larger species with leaves up to 35 cms long. It grows in a variety of habitats and there is quite some variation in the flowers with in the species. It’s the species growing by the stream and I also saw a few days ago on a rocky mountain side at about 100m altitude. 

Narcissus leonensis growing on a rocky mountain at an altitude of 950m.

A week ago we discovered a few plants of Narcissus bulbocodium flowering on the farm in the Castañarina meadow. (It is probably the sup species “cantabricus” an endomism of the Cordillera cantabrica, but I don’t want to get into a taxanomic minefield so want delve any deeper on names.) This leaves of this species are up to about 24 cms.

Narcissus bulbocidium growing on the farm.

For me one of the prettiest of daffodils is Narcissus asturensis with leaves rarely reaching more than 12 cms. Its starting to come into flower as the snow melts away high in the mountains and can be seen in quite large numbers.

Narcissus bulbocodium on a mountain at 600m

For me one of the prettiest of daffodils is Narcissus asturiensis with leaves rarely reaching more than 12 cms. It is just starting to come into flower as the snow melts away high in the mountains and can be seen in quite large numbers. The photos of this species were taken  at an altitude of 1,450m

Narcissus asturiensis

Narcissus asturiensis emerging just after the snow thaws.

 The fourth species of daffodil that grows in Asturias is Narcissus triandrus and is quite often found in the Ponga area.

Narcissus triandrus

The wood land footpath from the hotel, happy walking and happy botanising!