Eryngo (Eryngium maritimum, Sp. Pl.: 233 (1753))

Family: Apiaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 233 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Eryngium

Vegetable: False

Observations: Coastal Europe, Medit. to W. Caucasus

Description

Eryngo, scientifically known as Eryngium maritimum, is a fascinating coastal plant that belongs to the Apiaceae family. Described by the renowned botanist Linnaeus in his work Species Plantarum in 1753, this remarkable species is particularly notable for its unique and striking appearance which makes it easily identifiable along the coastal regions of Europe, stretching from the Mediterranean to the Western Caucasus.

This hardy perennial has adapted exquisitely to its saline environment, allowing it to thrive where few other plants can. It typically grows in sandy soils, often found in dunes and coastal habitats where it plays an essential role in stabilizing sand and preventing erosion. The plant’s distinctive bracts, which are often blue or purplish in hue, coupled with spiky leaves, give it a thistle-like appearance that adds a touch of rugged beauty to the shorelines it inhabits.

Eryngo flowers from midsummer to early autumn, producing clusters of small, pale blue flowers that attract a variety of pollinators, including bees and butterflies. Its deep root system not only helps in binding sand together but also allows it to access deeper water reserves, making it particularly drought-resistant.

Historically, Eryngium maritimum has also been used for medicinal purposes. Various parts of the plant were traditionally harvested and utilized in folk medicine for their purported benefits, such as diuretic and tonic properties.

For those interested in coastal flora, Eryngo stands out not only for its ecological importance but also for its resilience and distinctive beauty, making it a plant well worth noting in both botanical studies and conservation efforts.

Common Names

Eng: sea-holly, seaside eryngo, eryngo, sea holly, maritime eryngo, seaside coyote-thistle
Deu: see-mannstreu, strand-mannstreu, strand-mannstreu, stranddistel, stranddistel, strandmannstreu
Dan: strand-mandstro
Nor: strandtorn
Nld: blauwe zeedistel
Lav: jurmalas zilpodze
Swe: martorn, martorna, vanlig martorn, äkta martorn
Fra: panicaut de mer, panicaut des dunes
Nob: strandtorn
Nno: strandtorn
Cym: boglynnon, boglynnon arfor, boglynnon y môr, celyn y môr, celynnen y môr, morgelyn, morgelynnen, ysgallen foglynnog
Gla: cuileann trá, cuileann-tràgha, cuilinn-tràgha, sea holly
Tur: deniz cakir dikeni, goz dikeni
Bul: приморски ветрогон
En: Eryngo, Sea-holly, Seaside eryngo, Sea Holly, Maritime eryngo, Seaside coyote-thistle, Sea Holme
Ar: قرصعنة بحرية
Eu: Itsas armika
Bg: Морски ветрогон, Приморски ветрогон
Ca: Card marí, Assutzena d’arena, Assutzena de mar, Panical marí
Zh: 滨海刺芹
Kw: Morgelyn
Co: Cardu marinu
Cs: Máčka přímořská
Da: Strand-Mandstro
Nl: Blauwe zeedistel
Et: Rand-ogaputk
Fi: Meripiikkiputki
Fr: “Panicaut de mer, Chardon des dunes, Chardon bleu, Panicaut des dunes, Panicaut de mer, Panicaut maritime
Gl: Cardo da ribeira
Ka: Ზღვისპირა ლურჯი ნარი
De: See-Mannstreu, Stranddistel, Strand-Mannstreu, Strandmannstreu, Strand-Mannstreu, Stranddistel
He: חרחבינה חופית
Hu: Tengerparti iringó
Ga: Cuileann trá
It: Calcatreppola marittima, Erba di San Pietro, Calcatreppola marina, Eringio marino
Lv: Jūrmalas zilpodze, Jurmalas zilpodze
Lt: Pajūrinė zunda
No: Strandtorn
Nb: Strandtorn
Nn: Strandtorn
Fa: ارینگیوم ماریتیمم
Pl: Mikołajek nadmorski
Pt: Cardo-marítimo
Gd: Cuileann trá, Cuileann-tràgha, Cuilinn-tràgha, Sea holly
Sk: Kotúč prímorský
Es: Cardo marítimo, Panical marítimo, Cardo de mar, Cardo marino
Sv: Martorn, Martorna, Vanlig martorn, Äkta martorn
Tr: Deniz cakir dikeni, Goz dikeni
Uk: Миколайчики приморські
Cy: Celynnen y môr, Boglynnon, Boglynnon Arfor, Boglynnon y Môr, Celyn y Môr, Morgelyn, Morgelynnen, Ysgallen Foglynnog

Synonyms

• Eryngium marinum (Garsault)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Baleares (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Corse (native)
• Cyprus (native)
• Denmark (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Libya (native)
• Morocco (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Norway (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Tunisia (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken May 7, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2021 by Jean-René Girardeau (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2021 by francois tissot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 14, 2021 by Chickpea (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Jul 10, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 2, 2021 by bernadette hoens (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 7, 2021 by Jean Yves JEGOUREL (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 2017 by Menno Wolff (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 14, 2021 by Chickpea (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Jul 9, 2021 by Cédric Jankowiak (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 15, 2021 by sardine super (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 18, 2021 by Alfred Hinrichs (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 10, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Cardo azul (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Sep 28, 2021 by Jean-René Girardeau (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 10, 2020 by Anastasia Getman (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2021 by francois tissot (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 21, 2019 by M K (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Jul 13, 2021 by Pierre LEON (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 9, 2021 by Hélène (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 6, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 7, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Other

Taken Jun 27, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 27, 2022 by Gaël Covain (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 7, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Quentin LEBASTARD (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 17, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Patrice GIRAUDEAU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 21, 2021 by Kostia Kostia (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3034391)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:841903-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Eryngium maritimum L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Forb/herb

Growth

Ph maximum: 7.5

Ph minimum: 7.0

Light: 9

Atmospheric humidity: 4

Bloom months: [‘jun’, ‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’]

Soil nutriments: 5

Soil salinity: 3