J is for .......... Jonquil

Now I bet you all looked at this photo and thought, "It's a Daffodil!". Well, technically, it's a Narcissus, as are Daffodils.

The name Daffodil is derived from an earlier "Affodell", a variant of Asphodel. The reason for the introduction of the initial "d" is not known, although a probable source is an etymological merging from the Dutch article "de," as in "De affodil." From at least the 16th century, "Daffadown Dilly", "daffadown dilly", and "daffydowndilly" have appeared as playful synonyms of the name.

There are two derivations of the name Narcissus for this genus. One is that of the youth of Greek mythology called Narcissus, who, in at least one of many variations of the tale, became so obsessed with his own reflection as he knelt and gazed into a pool of water that he fell into the water and drowned. In some variations, he died of starvation and thirst from sitting by the edge of the pool, transfixed by his own reflection. In both versions, the Narcissus plant sprang from where he died.

The other derivation is that the plant is named after its narcotic properties (?????? narkao, "I grow numb" in Greek).

The Jonquil is a species of Narcissus characterised by dark, rush-like stems, multi-headed blooms and a very heady perfume, hence the narcotic properties I guess. I liked the raindrops on these in my parents' garden. Yes, once again I have arrived in Yorkshire and it has rained!