PANCRATIUM MARITIMUM

Family and Genus:- See- AMARYLLIDACEAE

Common Names:- Sea daffodil, Sand Lily.

Homotypic Synonyms:- Hymenocallis maritima. +14 Heterotypic Synonyms

Meaning:- Pancratium (Gr) All-potent, a name used by the Greek physician

Dioscorides.

Maritimum (L) Growing by the sea.

General description:- Short to medium, rather tough, hairless, bulbous perennial,

often clurnp-forming.

Scape:-

1) 10-30 cm. stout, somewhat compressed.

Bulb:-

1) Very large. ovoid, deeply sunk, tapered to a long neck, dividing to form clumps.

Leaves:-

1) 12-20 mm wide, fleshy, ligulate, grey-green, glaucous, appearing at anthesis.

Flowers:-

1) Large, 10-15 cm long, fragrant, borne in umbels of 3-15.

2) Spathe, 4-7 cm.

3) Pedicels, 5-10 mm, shorter than the ovary.

4) Hypanthial tube, 60-80 mm, very slender.

5) Perianth-segments, 30-50 mm, linear to lanceolate, erecto-patent.

6) Corona, c. 2/3 as long as the perianth-segments, margin with 12 triangular teeth.

white.

7) Stamens, 6, borne on the rim of the distinctive cone-shaped trumpet, free part of

filament about equalling the anther.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, 3-valved, broadly ellipsoid to obovoid.

2) Seeds, large, (10-12 mm), ± triquetrous, black.

Key features:-

1) Flowers, 10-15 cm.

2) Perianth-segments, shorter than hypanthial tube and less than twice as long as

the corona.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy coastal habitats, including sand-dunes. 0-10 m. rarely some

distance inland.

Distribution:- Widespread in Greece, but lacking in some areas also decreasing in

many areas due to development of tourist facilities. - Mediterranean region and

Black Sea coasts. Widespread and common on Crete.

Flowering time:- Aug-Oct.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton