Eryngium maritimum

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Sea holly
Illustration Eryngium maritimum0.jpg
Botanical illustration
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Apiales
Family: Apiaceae
Genus: Eryngium
Species:
E. maritimum
Binomial name
Eryngium maritimum

Eryngium maritimum, the sea holly or seaside eryngo, is a species of Eryngium in the plant family Apiaceae and native to most European coastlines. It resembles a plume thistle in that its flower is burr-shaped, but the flowers are metallic blue rather than mauve. Protected from winds this dune plant grows to a height of 20 to 60 cm. Although widespread, it is considered endangered in many areas, such as Germany where its occurrence has been greatly reduced throughout and has become locally extinct in several districts.

In Elizabethan times in England, these plants were believed to be a strong aphrodisiac. They are named in a speech by Falstaff:

"Let the sky rain potatoes;
let it thunder to the tune of Green-sleeves,
hail kissing-comfits and snow eringoes [sea-holly],
let there come a tempest of provocation..."

— Falstaff, Act 5, scene v, "The Merry Wives of Windsor", William Shakespeare

Sea holly was nominated the 2002 County flower for the city of Liverpool.[citation needed] Asteroid 199194 Calcatreppola was named after this plant.[1] The official naming citation was published by the Minor Planet Center on 25 September 2018 (M.P.C. 111803).[2]

Gallery[]

  • On the shore of the Mediterranean Sea near the mouth of Dalyan River, Turkey

  • Whole plant, Meia Praia beach, Lagos, Portugal

  • Flowers, Meia Praia beach, Lagos, Portugal

  • Close-up of flower

  • MHNT botanical specimen

  • In Aggelohori, Greece

References[]

This article is based on a translation of an article from the German Wikipedia

  1. ^ "199194 Calcatreppola (2006 AO)". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
  2. ^ "MPC/MPO/MPS Archive". Minor Planet Center. Retrieved 17 October 2018.

External links[]

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