Sea Lily

The sea lily (Pancratium maritimum) is a plant that grows spontaneously along the sandy coastlines. It is a perennial herbaceous and bulbous species, which can reach a height of about 50 cm, surviving winter as a large, slightly oblong bulb with a diameter of 5-6 cm. The leaves, between 30 and 50 cm long, are ribbon-shaped and a characteristic glaucous green.

The flowering, which takes place in midsummer, is particularly evocative: the large white flowers, funnel-shaped and delicately scented, cluster in umbels at the end of the scape, when most of the leaves have already dried up. The fruits are large capsules that, when opened, release numerous pitch-black seeds, resembling pieces of charcoal. Thanks to a light spongy layer, these seeds can float on water or be carried by the wind.

Because of the beauty of its flowers, the sea lily is one of the most representative species of dune ecosystems, such as that of Lacona. Here, this plant contributes to the beauty and biodiversity of the last dune system of the Tuscan Archipelago, restored and protected by the Tuscan Archipelago National Park.

Besides Elba, the Pancratium maritimum can also be found on Capraia, Pianosa, and the island of Giglio.