Pancratium angustifolium Lojac. 1909, illegitimate homonym, not M.Roem. 1847
Pancratium barcinonense Sennen
Pancratium mirennae Mattei
Pancratium linosae Soldano & F.Conti
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,[5] (although it is not a true lily). The specific epithet maritimum means "of the sea".[6]
Descriptionedit
Pancratium maritimum is a bulbous perennial with a long neck and glaucous, broadly linear leaves, evergreen, but the leaves often die back during hot summers. Scape to 40 centimetres (16 in). Flowers 3–15 in an umbel,[5] up to 15 cm (6 in) long, white. Corona two-thirds as long as the tepals. The flowers have a pleasing, exotic and very subtle lily scent, which only becomes apparent during still, windless summer nights that allow the delicate fragrance to become perceptible. Flowering is from August to October.[3]
Chemistryedit
4'-Hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-8-methylflavan is a flavan found in P. maritimum.[7]
Ecologyedit
Pancratium maritimum is pollinated by a hawk-moth named Agrius convolvuli. These insects visit the flower only when the speed of the wind is under 2 metres per second (6.6 ft/s). Even if the species is pollinated in an artificial way during windy weather the pollination is not effective. Pancratium maritimum is not receptive to its own pollen and must be cross-pollinated.
Cultivationedit
Easily grown but requires a very sunny position and a very well drained, sandy soil. Needs hot summers to induce flowering and is often a shy bloomer in cooler climates. Hardy to USDA zone 8. Tolerates temperatures down to about −5 °C (23 °F). Propagation by seeds or division after flowering. Seedlings may flower in their third or fourth year.[8][9]
Cultureedit
The Hebrew name for the flower is חבצלת החוף (khavatselet ha-Khof), closely related to the rose of Sharon (khavatselet ha-Sharon – חבצלת השרון) mentioned in the Song of Solomon. Since the plant grows on the Sharon plain of the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, it is suggested the biblical passage may refer to this flower.[10]
^Juan Vicedo, J. (2018). "Pancratium maritimum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T18990540A57467022. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T18990540A57467022.en. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
^ abcKew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
^"Pancratium maritimum L. - sea-daffodil". US Department of Agriculture Plant profile. Retrieved 31 August 2016.
^ ab"Pancratium maritimum Sea daffodil, sea lily, lily of St Nicholas Κρίνος της θάλασσας Amaryllidaceae - amaryllis family Monocot". wildflowersofskopelos.org.uk. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
^Jaeger, Edmund Carroll (1959). A source-book of biological names and terms. Springfield, Ill: Thomas. ISBN 0-398-06179-3.
^A. A. Ali; M. A. Makboul; A. A. Attia; D. T. Ali (1990). "Chromones and flavans from Pancratium maritimum". Phytochemistry. 29 (2): 625–627. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(90)85130-8.
^Plants for a Future, sea daffodil, Pancratium maritimum
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External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Pancratium maritimum.
Wikispecies has information related to Pancratium maritimum.
Visit West Crete, Safaris In Masai Mara, Pancratium maritimum - Sea daffodil
Flowers of Chania, Pancratium maritimum - Sea daffodil