| Sea Daffodils |
The Pancratium Maritimum, or Sea Daffodil, is native to the Mediterranean area and is found in South Western Europe, as well as in coastal Spain, just above the high water mark. The name means "on the sea coast."
What a stunning specimen this flower is. It is similar in many ways to many varieties of the amaryllis that grow on the African continent, but its luster and pale shades are located only at sea level. This plant is a bulbous plant with a long neck and strong vascular leaves that remain green throughout the year, but brown off in the heat of summer. The flower comes into full bloom in August to October It is an easy to grow plant that requires sun, sandy dryish soils, and good drainage. The hot summers ensures the eventual flowering of the plant and the long dragging leaves lie on the sand as the glory of the flower reaches in best potential.
The lowest temperatures it can tolerate are around -5%c. Seeds produce flowers in the third year of growth and plants can either grow from seed or division. Many of the seeds are water-born and can travel great distances up and down coastal areas on the tides. Most stems offer 10-15 flowers.
Found in Spain at Arenales de San Pedro del Pinatar Manga del Mar Menor y Calblanque, - the plant is rare, and steps have been take by local government in Murcia to ensure that this plant is kept alive on the shores. Strict conservation is practiced in all the areas common to the plant and controlled through Los Martínez del Puerto, Murcia.
An investigation on the fruit was undertaken over a two year period and showed that the removal of the flower did not improve the seed quantity of the plant.
Uses
The bulb can be cooked, although this report is somewhat dubious since there are reports that the bulb is slightly poisonous.
Fiber. - The woolly hairs on the inside of the seed case are used to weave felt shoes and other garments
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse. Pre-soak stored seed for 1 hour in warm water and 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 the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be left undisturbed in the pot for their first two years of growth. Give them an occasional liquid feed in the growing season to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants become dormant in late summer, pot up the small bulbs placing 2 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another one or two years in the greenhouse before planting them out when they are dormant in late summer.
Division of offsets when the plant dies down in late summer.
Scent Flowers: Fresh
The flowers have an exotic lily scent, not yet used in perfume due to the plant being rare.