Daffodil Facts
The “Affodyle” is the name of the fun, flighty flower that we know as daffodils; these and other fun daffodil facts have emerged over the years to amuse folks everywhere.
Many fun and interesting daffodil facts help us to understand the history of this delightful springtime flower. Ancient gardens are reported to have been filled with the blooms of Narcissus, the botanical name for the daffodil. Over the years, this early bloomer has gained quite a repertoire of uses and beliefs.
Narcissus was, in Greek mythology, the Self-Admirer. One of the historical daffodil facts is that Narcissus fell in love with his image in a pool of water. He cried, and his tears are said to be the center of the daffodil cup. The legend further goes that the Gods thought Narcissus would starve to death if he remained at the pool any longer, and therefore turned him into a flower. Another Greek belief was that the daffodil was a symbol of death; emanating evil that produced madness and death.
The old name for the daffodil, facts show, was Affodyle. The Old English verbage, affo dyle, meant “that which comes early”. Over time, the name eventually became daffodil. Other names for the lovely flower going back to the Elizabethean era were Daffodilly, Daffodowndill and Primrose Peerless.
Another of the rather amusing daffodil facts developed during medieval times. Arabs extracted the juice of the daffodil for use as a cure for baldness. There is no record to show how successful this “daffy” treatment may have been. Also, the Arabians regarded the daffodil as an aphrodisiac.
The daffodil bulb is known to have a narcotic effect; a paralyzing alkaloid that is toxic. Roman soldiers are said to have carried the bulb into battle with them, and when one would suffer a mortal wound he would eat the bulb. The paralyzing effect would take over, and the soldier was able to die a painless death. This is one of the odd daffodil facts that would make one wonder how the soldiers knew to do this at all!
The sap of the daffodil, facts show contain sharp crystals; designed to prevent animals from consuming them. Hundreds of years ago, the Romans thought the daffodil sap was able to heal wounds. This was probably only one of many misguided daffodil facts, for instead of healing wounds, the crystals in the sap actually irritated their skin even further.
The daffodil is a lovely flower that is a harbinger of spring, but daffodil facts show how the flower has been regarded in a different light by many cultures over the years. Today, uses of the daffodil are pretty much limited to the display of its beauty in gardens and vases. For a flower so pretty, fun and flighty, is there really any reason for any other?