Wild flowers of the Maltese Islands... "Narcis" and "Halib it-Tajr"

Abstract

Scattered across the still virgin natural areas of the Maltese Islands, clinging to every pocket of earth accumulated in rocky places and spreading across uncultivated areas, one comes across the rich natural heritage of wild flowers with which our Islands are bestowed. These wild flowers cover and colour our countryside despite the onslaught they suffer because of lack of positive appreciation by the local populace. Two of the most beautiful of our wild flowers are the French Daffodil Nartis or Rancis and the Star of Bethlehem Halib it-tajr, scientifically known as Narcissus tazzeta and Ornithogalum arabicum respectively. These species are found in the Mediterranean region where they grow in uncultivated fields, rocky places, field margins and in valleys; they are well adapted to the Maltese environment. Both species are perennials that is, the parent plant can grow again every year. They flower and produce seeds like annuals do, but in addition they have a part of the stem below ground, where it is protected. This always has a store of food and water and is protected by scale leaves. During the hot dry season, the stem above ground dries and dies, and both these species go through a resting period, during which time they draw little from the reserve material. As soon as the first rains have moistened the soil, they once again spring to life, and produce flowers and leaves.