Pancratium maritimum

Pancratium maritimum, or sea daffodil, is a species of bulbous plant native to both sides of the Mediterranean region and the Black Sea, from the Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco, and Cyprus, and east to Turkey, Syria, Israel and the Caucasus. Parts of its range on the coasts of the Black Sea include southern Bulgaria, northern Turkey and Georgia. It is also naturalized in southern California, Bermuda and the Azores. Pancratium maritimum grows on beaches and coastal sand dunes, often with much of the leaves and scapes buried in the sand. Other vernacular names are sea lily, sand daffodil, sand lily and lily of St. Nicholas, (although it is not a true lily). The specific epithet maritimum means "of the sea".

Description

It is a herb plant with a bulb. It grows up to 50 cm high. It is 30 cm across. The bulb is 6 cm across. The leaves are bluish-green. They are fleshy and strap shaped. They are 5-20 mm wide. The flowers are white. There are 4-12 flowers in a head. They are on stalks 30-40 cm long. The flowers have a lily scent. The fruit is a 3-valved capsule.

Edible Uses

The bulb can be cooked, though this is somewhat dubious given reports that the bulb may be poisonous. Seeds are also noted as edible, though no further details are given.

Traditional Uses

The bulb has been reported as being cooked and eaten but it is somewhat poisonous. The seeds are eaten. It is used in salads as an onion substitute.

Medicinal Uses

None known.

Known Hazards

The bulb is somewhat poisonous.

Distribution

It grows on the Atlantic coast just above the waterline. It needs a light well drained soil and very sunny position. It grows on sandy coastlines. A hot dry summer is needed to fully ripen the bulbs. It can tolerate light frosts. It can grow in arid places.

Where It Grows

Africa, Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Australia, Balkans, Britain, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Egypt, Europe, France, Greece, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Palestine, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Turkey, Türkiye,

Cultivation

Requires a light very well drained sandy soil in a very sunny position. Requires a warm sheltered position when grown outdoors in Britain. Requires a hot dry summer in order to fully ripen its bulb, it is more easily grown in a bulb frame in Britain. Tolerates temperatures down to about -5°c, it is only hardy in the milder areas of Britain, requiring protection even there in the winter. The bulb should be planted deeply and rapid spring growth should be encouraged. Another report says that plants are easily grown outdoors in Britain but that the leaves are susceptible to frost damage and the plant does not flower well in an average British summer. The flowers have an exotic lily scent.

Propagation

Seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. Pre-soak stored seed for 1 hour in warm water, then sow in spring in a warm greenhouse in a light sandy soil. Germination usually takes place within 1–3 months at 22°C. Sow seed thinly so seedlings can be left undisturbed in the pot for their first two years. Give an occasional liquid feed during the growing season to prevent nutrient deficiency. When plants become dormant in late summer, pot up the small bulbs, placing 2 per pot, and grow on for another one or two years in the greenhouse before planting out when dormant in late summer. Propagate also by division of offsets when the plant dies down in late summer.

Other Uses

The woolly hairs on the inside of the seed coat (or possibly the seed case) are used to weave felt shoes and other garments.

Notes

There are 15 Pancratium species.

Also Known As

Obmorski pankracij, Pancracio

References (14)

• Blamey, M and Grey-Wilson, C., 2005, Wild flowers of the Mediterranean. A & C Black London. p 490
• Facciola, S., 1998, Cornucopia 2: a Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, p 9
• Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 460
• Hibbert, M., 2002, The Aussie Plant Finder 2002, Florilegium. p 218
• http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants

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