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Eryngium maritimum - L.                
                 
Common Name Sea Holly
Family Apiaceae or Umbelliferae
Synonyms
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Sea shores, preferring sand and shingle whilst avoiding acid soils[17].
Range European coasts, including Britain, from Scandanavia to the Mediterraneanand Baltic, and Black Sea
Edibility Rating  
Medicinal Rating  
Care
Fully Hardy Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun

Summary       

Physical Characteristics       
 icon of manicon of flower
Eryngium maritimum is an evergreen Perennial growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.4 m (1ft 4in).
It is hardy to zone 5. It is in leaf 12-Jan It is in flower from Jul to October. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, flies, beetles.The plant is self-fertile.
It is noted for attracting wildlife.


Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline and saline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerate maritime exposure.
Eryngium maritimum Sea Holly


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Illustration_Eryngium_maritimum0.jpg
Eryngium maritimum Sea Holly
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Habitats       
 Cultivated Beds;
Edible Uses                                         
Edible Parts: Leaves;  Root.
Edible Uses:

Young shoots - cooked[46, 61, 66]. They are normally blanched by excluding light from the growing plant, and are then used as an asparagus substitute[2, 115, 183]. They are said to be palatable and nourishing[4]. Root - cooked[2]. Used as a vegetable or candied and used as a sweetmeat[5, 66, 115]. Palatable and nutritious[4], it is slightly sweet and smells of carrots[13]. The boiled or roasted roots are said to resemble parsnips or chestnuts in flavour[2, 183].
Medicinal Uses


Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Aphrodisiac;  Aromatic;  Diaphoretic;  Diuretic;  Expectorant;  Stimulant;  Tonic.

Sea holly roots were collected on a large scale in the 17th and 18th centuries in England and were candied then used as restorative, quasi-aphrodisiac lozenges[238]. The plant is still used in modern herbalism where it is valued especially for its diuretic action[254]. The root is to be aphrodisiac, aromatic, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, stimulant and tonic[4, 165, 200]. The root promotes free expectoration and is very useful in the treatment of debility attendant on coughs of chronic standing in the advanced stages of pulmonary consumption[4]. It is used in the treatment of cystitis, urethritis, as a means to alleviate kidney stones (it is unlikely that it dissolves the stones, but it probably helps to retard their formation), and to treat enlargement or inflammation of the prostate gland[254]. Drunk freely, it is used to treat diseases of the liver and kidneys[4, 238]. Used externally as a poultice, the dried powdered root aids tissue regeneration[268]. The root should be harvested in the autumn from plants that are at least 2 years old[4].
Other Uses
Soil stabilization.

The extensive root system helps to bind sand on the sea shore[13].
Cultivation details                                         
Requires a deep well-drained soil and a sunny position[1]. Prefers a light sandy saline soil but tolerates most soil types including lime and poor gravels[200, 268]. Plants are best grown in a hot dry position[187, 233]. Established plants are drought tolerant[190]. Plants are hardy to about -15°c[187]. Sea holly has very long roots that penetrate deeply in the soil and are often several feet long[4]. These roots are sweetly scented[245]. The plant should be placed in its final position whilst small since it resents root disturbance[200]. Although a sea-shore plant, it is amenable to garden cultivation[4]. A good bee plant[108].
                                                                                 
Propagation                                         
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in early autumn on the surface of a well-drained compost in a cold frame[200]. The seed can also be sown in spring. Germination can be very slow[4], although another report says that the seed usually germinates in 5 - 90 days at 20°c. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in early spring or autumn. Take care since the plant resents root disturbance[200]. Root cuttings in autumn or winter[200].
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Expert comment                                         
 
      
Author                                         
L.
                                                                                 
Botanical References                                         
17200
                                                                                 
Links / References                                         

[1]F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaces in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
[2]Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
[4]Grieve. A Modern Herbal.
Not so modern (1930's?) but lots of information, mainly temperate plants.
[5]Mabey. R. Food for Free.
Edible wild plants found in Britain. Fairly comprehensive, very few pictures and rather optimistic on the desirability of some of the plants.
[13]Triska. Dr. Hamlyn Encyclopaedia of Plants.
Very interesting reading, giving some details of plant uses and quite a lot of folk-lore.
[17]Clapham, Tootin and Warburg. Flora of the British Isles.
A very comprehensive flora, the standard reference book but it has no pictures.
[46]Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants.
An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
[61]Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man.
Forget the sexist title, this is one of the best books on the subject. Lists a very extensive range of useful plants from around the world with very brief details of the uses. Not for the casual reader.
[66]Freethy. R. From Agar to Zenery.
Very readable, giving details on plant uses based on the authors own experiences.
[108]International Bee Research Association. Garden Plants Valuable to Bees.
The title says it all.
[115]Johnson. C. P. The Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Written about a hundred years ago, but still a very good guide to the useful plants of Britain.
[165]Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.
An excellent small herbal.
[183]Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants.
Excellent. Contains a very wide range of conventional and unconventional food plants (including tropical) and where they can be obtained (mainly N. American nurseries but also research institutes and a lot of other nurseries from around the world.
[187]Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Perennials Volumes 1 and 2.
Photographs of over 3,000 species and cultivars of ornamental plants together with brief cultivation notes, details of habitat etc.
[190]Chatto. B. The Dry Garden.
A good list of drought resistant plants with details on how to grow them.
[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
[233]Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
[238]Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses.
A very well presented and informative book on herbs from around the globe. Plenty in it for both the casual reader and the serious student. Just one main quibble is the silly way of having two separate entries for each plant.
[245]Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World.
An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.
[254]Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants
An excellent guide to over 500 of the more well known medicinal herbs from around the world.
[268]Stuart. M. (Editor) The Encyclopedia of Herbs and Herbalism
Excellent herbal with good concise information on over 400 herbs.

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