NARCISSUS. A large genus of flowers of the amaryllis family, native to Asia and Europe, is called narcissus. Included are the daffodil, the poet’s narcissus, the jonquil, and others.

All the species produce bulbs, from which the long, narrow leaves arise. These usually appear with the blooms. The flowers are white to yellow, seldom green, solitary or in clusters at the top of the flower stalk. The flowers of some are very fragrant, while some have no odor. The most interesting feature of the flower botanically is the “corona” or “cup,” which arises in the throat of the bloom and may be long and tubular, or cup shaped, or reduced to a ring in some forms. Narcissus should be planted early—before the end of September. They should be at least three inches apart and covered with about four inches of well-drained soil of medium texture and fertility. The paper white narcissus may be planted in a dish filled with small stones or fiber. It must be well watered and kept in a cool place until well rooted. Then it can be placed in a sunny window. Many other varieties are grown in greenhouses. They are excellent house plants from Christmas through Easter. Some varieties become perennial outdoors and, if undisturbed, will multiply for many years.

OLEANDER is an evergreen shrub cultivated for its showy flowers and handsome foliage. It belongs to the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. In warm regions it grows outdoors all year. In cooler regions it makes a fine house- and greenhouse plant. The common oleander, Nerium oleander, native to the Mediterranean region, grows 8 to 20 feet tall. Its thick, lance-shaped leaves, up to 10 inches long and 1 inch wide, are grouped in threes or fours along the stem. Except in double-flowered varieties the red, white, pink, or purple blossoms have five petals. The blossoms, which are l,5 to 3 inches wide, cluster at the branch tips. Narrow seed pods, 4 to 7 inches long, contain many fuzzy seeds. Similar to the common oleander, but sweeter smelling, is the fragrant oleander, Nerium odorum, native to southern Asia.

All parts of the plants are poisonous. So is the smoke from burning oleander wood and honey from oleander nectar. One leaf of oleander can kill the cow or horse that eats it.

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