At a time when the local countryside is in full bloom, let’s put a spotlight on a flower that once upon a time covered the islands but we've barely seen this winter. We are speaking of the Narcissus Elegans (MT: Narċis imwaħħar skars), which is a truly delightful sight to behold.

Narcissus is an indigenous plant that flourished on the Maltese islands long before the arrival of man. Yet man is contributing to its rapid decline in numbers due to various reasons, mainly over-picking. There was a time within my own memory when old women would sell Narcissus flowers door-to-door in a pram, since the flowers are greatly enjoyed for their beauty and scent.

Indeed, in Greek mythology, the youth Narcissus became enamoured with his own beauty reflected in the water. Even today, anybody who has an increased sense of self-importance is said to be a Narcissist. Legend has it that when Narcissus died, he became the Narcissus flower, which hangs down towards the ground (or water) - a symbol of focusing on the material manifestation rather than the spiritual sky. ‘Narcissus’ in Greek means ‘numb’ and in Latin it means ‘late in developing’. In some cultures, it is associated with death.

But Narcissus is built to safeguard its own destruction because it grows from a bulb that sprouts anew year after year. Unless the bulb is removed from the soil, come Autumn, it will continue to decorate the garigue and valleys with its attractive yellow cup and white petals, offering its gifts of beauty and delicious scent without taking anything.

However, without the flowers going to seed, new generations of Narcissus are hard to come by and gradually, the old bulbs lose their scent and eventually die. The Narcissus Elegans has become rare and has a threatened status in the Red Data Book of the Maltese Islands since 1989. It is protected by law: schedule VIII of legal notice LN311/2006.

Yet, despite a very evident reduction in their proliferation as at the year 2020, not all of the local Narcissus plant species have been listed as protected. Perhaps because Narcissus Tazetta (French Daffodil) and Narcissus Serotinus (Late Narcissus) still grow well in certain garigue areas and valleys, mainly in the west and north of Malta and in Gozo.

But, just like Narcissus himself, their attractiveness seems to lead to their own demise and year after year, there seem to be less and less of them. Tempted as you may be, please do not pick any Narcissus flowers!

Fun fact:

Narcissus is poisonous to consume but has medicinal properties, although its medicinal use is not a local tradition. It is said to act against issues of the respiratory tract, such as asthma, colds, whooping cough; skin diseases such as ulcers and warts; digestive issues such as diarrhoea; and issues of the nervous system, such as spasms and epilepsy. It is also considered a medicine against tumours and malaria.