Sea holly

Sea holly

Taxobox
name = Sea holly


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Sea holly, shore of Mediterranean Sea near mouth of Dalyan River, Turkey
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Apiales
familia = Apiaceae
genus = "Eryngium"
species = "E. maritimum"
binomial = "Eryngium maritimum"
binomial_authority = L.

The Sea holly (biological binomial term: "Eryngium maritimum") is a species of "Eryngium" in the plant family Apiaceae and native to most European coastlines. In some ways it resembles a flowering thistle, in that its flower is burr-shaped, though these are metallic blue, rather than mauve. The protected dune plant grows to a height of 20 to 60cm and although widespread it is considered endangered. So, for instance, in Germany its occurrence has been greatly reduced throughout and has become extinct in some regions.

In Elizabethan times in England, these were believed to a strong aphrodisiac. They are named in a speech by Falstaff: cquote
1="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..."
4="Falstaff"
5=Act 5, scene v, "The Merry Wives of Windsor", William Shakespeare

Sea holly was nominated the 2002 County flower for the city of Liverpool. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool#Trivia]

References

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

External links

* [http://www.schutzstation-wattenmeer.de/wissen/stranddistel.html Further information and images]
* [http://linnaeus.nrm.se/flora/di/apia/eryng/erynmarv.jpgDen virtuelle floran: "Distribution"]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sea holly — Holly Hol ly (h[o^]l l[y^]), n. [OE holi, holin, AS. holen, holegn; akin to D. & G. hulst, OHG. huls hulis, W. celyn, Armor. kelen, Gael. cuilionn, Ir. cuileann. Cf. 1st {Holm}, {Hulver}.] 1. (Bot.) A tree or shrub of the genus {Ilex}. The… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Sea holly — Sea hol ly (Bot.) An evergeen seashore plant ({Eryngium maritimum}). See {Eryngium}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sea holly — n. a European eryngo (Eryngium maritimum) with leathery, bluish, spiny leaves and globular heads of small, bluish flowers …   English World dictionary

  • sea-holly — švelnusis akantas statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Akantinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, vaistinis augalas (Acanthus mollis), paplitęs šiaurės Afrikoje ir Pietų Amerikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Acanthus mollis angl. artist s acanthus; bear s breech;… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • sea-holly — pajūrinė zunda statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Salierinių šeimos vaistinis augalas (Eryngium maritimum), paplitęs šiaurės Afrikoje ir Europoje. atitikmenys: lot. Eryngium maritimum angl. sea holly; seaside eryngo vok. Stranddistel; Strand… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • sea-holly — alpinė zunda statusas T sritis vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Eryngium alpinum angl. bluetop eryngo; sea holly vok. Alpendistel; Alpen Mannstreu rus. синеголовник альпийский lenk. mikołajek alpejski …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • sea holly — sea hol·ly sē .häl ē n a European coastal herb of the genus Eryngium (E. maritimum) that has spiny leaves and pale blue flowers and was formerly used as an aphrodisiac …   Medical dictionary

  • sea holly — sea′ hol ly n. pln an Old World plant, Eryngium maritimum, of the parsley family, with stiff, fleshy leaves and pale blue flowers • Etymology: 1540–50 …   From formal English to slang

  • sea holly — noun 1. widely cultivated southern European acanthus with whitish purple veined flowers • Syn: ↑bear s breech, ↑bear s breeches, ↑Acanthus mollis • Hypernyms: ↑acanthus 2. European evergreen eryngo with twisted spiny leaves naturalized on United… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sea holly — noun a spiny leaved plant of the parsley family, with metallic blue teasel like flowers, growing in sandy places by the sea. [Eryngium maritimum.] …   English new terms dictionary

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