Narcissus × briffae
Narcissus × briffae is a naturally-occurring hybrid daffodil in the family Amaryllidaceae. Its parents are N. deficiens and N. tazetta subsp. aequilimbus, and it is found through the Mediterranean where those species co-occur. This hybrid was first discovered in 2023 in Gozo, where it had previously been misidentified as Narcissus elegans.
Description
Narcissus × briffae grows in clusters of 25–70 plants, each with 2–5 flowers at the end of a scape about 30 cm long. Each plant has one or two narrow leaves, which are 3–5 mm wide, fleshy, and present during anthesis. A basal sheath extends 10 mm above the ground.Flowering occurs in Malta from the end of October to the beginning of November, depending on the first autumnal rains. The flowers have a delicate scent. The tepals are cream-colored, lanceolate or obovate in shape, and about 10 mm long and 5 mm wide. The lemon-colored corona is about 4 mm wide, and while it is more or less circular, it has three notches, dents or creases or assumes a slightly trigonal outline.
Plants are generally sterile, with pollen that is mostly shriveled and dysfunctional. The fruiting pods fall prematurely or lack viable seeds, although in very rare cases a few seeds can be seen.