Sea-holly

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• maritime eryngo
• sea holly
• seaside eryngo
• Sea-holly
• eryngo

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Apiales, it is classified under the family Apiaceae and is identified by the genus Eryngium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several regions within Northern Europe. Specifically, it can be found growing along the coastal areas of Denmark and Great Britain. Its presence also extends to the shores of Ireland, where it thrives in sandy habitats. Furthermore, the species is documented in the northern territories of Norway. Finally, it can be located across the coastline of Sweden.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Eryngium maritimum is defined by its specialized adaptation to highly dynamic and harsh coastal environments. It thrives primarily in habitats characterized by shifting sand, sea shores, and stony places, where it occupies the pioneer zones of maritime ecosystems. As a psammophyte, the plant is uniquely evolved to endure the physical stresses of its surroundings, including salt spray, high wind speeds, and the unstable nature of sandy substrates. Its presence in these nutrient-poor, saline, and frequently disturbed sites allows it to avoid competition from less resilient species. By anchoring itself in sandy and stony coastal terrains, the plant plays a functional role in stabilizing these maritime fringes, navigating the extreme fluctuations in moisture and salinity inherent to the interface between land and sea.

Habitat :

sand, sea, shores, stony places

Life history

The life history of Eryngium maritimum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its long-term presence within its coastal habitats. Functioning as a hemicryptophyte, it maintains its perennuating buds at the soil surface, protected by the substrate during unfavorable conditions. This life form is further specialized as a geophyte, relying on significant underground structures to survive environmental stressors. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant exhibits an evergreen nature, retaining its foliage to maintain photosynthetic activity across different seasons.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

geophyte

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Eryngium maritimum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This self-supporting, terrestrial plant does not function as a climber or an epiphyte, nor does it act as a parasite, maintaining an independent existence. In terms of stature, it reaches a minimum height of 0.3 m, with a mean plant height of approximately 0.308 m, and can reach a maximum height of up to 0.7 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.7 m

Plant height mean:

0.308 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Eryngium maritimum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its metabolic processes and carbon fixation strategies. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on autotrophic nutrition, optimizing its resource acquisition through specific leaf morphology. The leaves exhibit significant structural variation, with a maximum leaf length of 10 cm and a maximum leaf width of 15 cm, resulting in a mean leaf size of approximately 66.2563 cm². These morphological traits are closely linked to its resource-use efficiency, as evidenced by a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 106.17 cm²/g, reflecting a specialized adaptation to its environmental conditions through its leaf mass distribution.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf size mean:

66.2563 cm²

Leaf width max:

15 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

106.17 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Eryngium maritimum is characterized by a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is notably absent. This species follows a monocarpic life cycle, meaning it typically flowers once before completing its life cycle. The flowering period is highly variable, beginning as early as December and continuing through to August. Pollination is achieved through biotic syndromes, specifically relying on insects, with bees identified as a primary pollinator. Interestingly, the plant does not exhibit self-fertilization, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Once fertilization is successful, the plant produces seeds with a mean mass of approximately 0.0211125 g, though individual seed weights vary from a minimum of 0.01442 g to a maximum of 0.0258 g. Following maturation, the seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing the wind for distribution.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Aug

Monocarpy :

monocarp

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0258 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0211125 g

Seed mass min:

0.01442 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Eryngium maritimum has 6 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include CATECHIN, CHLOROGENIC ACID, Epicatechin, Monoterpenes, rosmarinic acid.

CATECHIN

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Epicatechin

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Monoterpenes

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

rosmarinic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

trans-Ferulic Acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Activities

Eryngium maritimum has 6 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anticancer, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, Antitussive, Aphrodisiac.

Anticancer

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antimicrobial

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antitussive

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Aphrodisiac

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Diuretic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Medicinal Uses

Eryngium maritimum has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, inflammation.

Most Reported Uses