Pancratium maritimum L.

Spice Fruit In the field

Family: AMARYLLIDACEAE

Genus: Pancratium

Catalan common name: Assutzena d'arenal. Lliri d'arenal. Lliri de mar.

Spanish common name: Amor mío. Azucena marina. Nardo marino.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

Uses and properties: Medicinal.

Plants protected by law: Balearic Catalogue.

IUCN Category: DDData deficient

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Geophyte.

Habitats: Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Beaches and dunes, sandy soils.

Characteristics: The site of the large white flowers of the sea lily in full August atop the hot beach sands is indeed a surprising site. Flowers open during the evening, and for only a period of a day give off a very pleasant smell. Upon flowering the leaves are already dry, but at the beginning of autumn, the leaves elongate, clear green in colour, twisted in shape and fairly firm in consistency. At the beach, it cannot be mistaken for any other species. Also very characteristic are its seeds, which resemble small bits of coal, which emerge from a spherical capsule.