P. maritimum: a bulbous perennial geophyte

What is it about?

The perennial geophyte sea daffodil, sea lily or sand lily (Pancratium maritimum L.) is a flowering species during the dry summer, widely distributed along Mediterranean seashores and grown in a wild stage. Populations of sea daffodil are exposed to sea breeze, salt spray, water shortage, strong solar radiation, elevated temperatures, substrate instability and moving sand. Also, it is expected that excessive tourism and human-induced activities will constrain the development of populations of P. maritimum, which have resulted from a long-term evolutionary process. P. maritimum exhibits large white flowers of a great aesthetic value during dry and hot summer weather conditions, when simultaneously flowering plant taxa are scarce. The buds remain protected below the soil surface on the underground perennial organ and the growth period alternates with a period of dormancy. The above-ground organs and tissues are exposed to harsh, ambient conditions and the large inflorescences of remarkable beauty and fragrance carry particular ornamental worth and thus economic value.

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Why is it important?

Pancratium maritimum L. (Amaryllidaceae) is a lily-like plant with daffodil-like leaves. P. maritimum is a bulbous perennial geophyte that is widely distributed, along the coastline of the Mediterranean region, from the Black Sea to part of the Atlantic coast. Coastal habitats are particularly vulnerable, because they change in response to both biotic and abiotic factors and their biodiversity is affected by the effects of sea-level rise and human-induced impacts. Therefore, populations of P. maritimum decrease due to urbanization, tourism development, tourist trampling, alteration, destruction of dune systems and over-collection;6 in fact, excess of flowers sampling is seriously threatening the diversity of this species, resulting in a significant decrease of populations of P. maritimum. Actually, the flowering season of P. maritimum, and therefore the pleasure in seeing its beautiful flowers, begins in June and ends in September, coinciding with the period of excessive tourism in the Mediterranean, and at a time when simultaneously flowering plant taxa are scarce. Also, P. maritimum is receiving much attention from the international scientific community due to its value as a commercial ornamental plant.