Additional notes (click to expand)

Medicinal

Traditional Herbal Medicine Registration (THMR).

The dried bulb is cardiotonic, strongly diuretic, emetic and expectorant. Please beware; this is a poisonous plant.

Nomenclature

Previously grown as Urginea maritima, Hyacinthaceae
Plants of the World online, Kew Science http://plantsoftheworldonline.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:534538-1 link

Toxicity

The bulb is poisonous in large doses. The acrid juice can cause skin blisters.

Toxic; scilloroside and other cardiac glycosides.
Professor Anthony Dayan, 2021

Geographical distribution

  • Africa, Macaronesia, Canary Is.
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Algeria
  • Africa, Northern Africa, Morocco
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iran
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Iraq
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Israel
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Lebanon-Syria
  • Asia-Temperate, Western Asia, Turkey
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Greece
  • Europe, Southeastern Europe, Italy
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, France
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Portugal
  • Europe, Southwestern Europe, Spain

Drimia maritima (L.) Stearn

Family: ASPARAGACEAE
Genus: Drimia
Species: maritima (L.) Stearn
Common names: Sea Squill, Red Squill
Pharmacopoeia Londinensis name: Squills
Distribution summary: Mediterranean
Habit: Bulbous
Hardiness: H2 - Tender; cool or frost-free greenhouse
Habitat: Frequently on sandy soils
Garden status: Not currently grown
Flowering months: September, October
Reason for growing: Medicinal, toxic


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