Junquillo menor
A bulbous plant belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family. It was first described by the French naturalist Léon Marie Dufor and published in 1830 in Systema Vegetabilium Secundum Classes, a work by Julius Hermann Schultes and his father, Josef August Schultes. The publication notes its presence in Navarra and Aragón.
It is important to note that the species originally included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection refers (LESPRE) referred to Narcissus fernandesii, a species now considered a synonym of Narcissus assoanus, which has a broader classification than the former.
Distribution
This daffodil is found across much of the Iberian Peninsula, with populations extending from the French Mediterranean region as far as Marseilles. Within the Iberian Peninsula, the species is primarily concentrated in two main areas: a north-eastern region that spans the Ebro valley and stretches into the interior mountain ranges of the province of Alicante, as well as the limestone mountain ranges of the Iberian System in Guadalajara, Burgos and Soria. The second population occurs in the south-western part of the peninsula, ranging from the mountains of Toledo to Sierra Nevada and reaching the Portuguese Algarve and the limestone mountain ranges north of Lisbon.
Habitat
Narcissus assoanus thrives in a variety of environments, including stony areas, rocky ledges, open scrubland, and different types of forest. It can be found at elevations ranging from sea level up to 2000 meters. The plant flowers between December and May, depending on altitude, and continues to produce fruit and release seeds until June.
Conservation
Due to its abundance and wide distribution, with an estimated population of over 2 million individuals, Narcissus assoanus does not require specific conservation measures in Spain beyond the protection afforded by its presence in designated natural areas. Some Spanish germplasm banks, such as those managed by the Junta de Andalucía and the Community of Extremadura, conserve seed collections of this species.
Images descriptions
The optical microscope image shows an ovoid seed shape with a slight triangular profile, measuring approximately 2.5 millimetres in length and 2 millimetres in width. The seed’s surface appears black, shiny, and smooth. However, when dehydrated, a reticulate structure becomes visible, which transitions to a smoother, slightly scaly surface as the seed approaches germination.
The scanning electron microscope image provides a detailed view of the seed’s apical end, revealing a surface with papillose lumps.