The seaside squill, in Maltese, basal ta’ l-għansar or għansar, (scientific name, urginea pancration) is commonly found near the sea, on rocky grounds and steppes – a habitat usually characterised by herbaceous plants.
This bulbous plant is considered to be endemic to Malta, Sicily and other islands of the central Mediterranean region and interestingly was first described from Maltese material.
The tough, glossy green leaves of the seaside squill are broad, lance-shaped and borne in rosettes. During the flowering season it has a tall stalk, which may reach a height of 1.5 metres and topped by an inflorescence bearing many rosy-white small flowers. It usually flowers in August to September, just before the emergence of the leaves.
The seaside squill grows from a large underground bulb found just at the soil surface and interestingly the dried bulb has been used medicinally for centuries, mainly as a diuretic or cardiac tonic.
Additionally, it has also been utilised in cases of renal diseases, chronic bronchitis and asthma. Due to the plant’s high toxicity, caution is undertaken when using this specimen for medicinal purposes and in fact, in the past it had also been used as a powerful rat or mouse poison.
The seaside squill which is part of our Maltese heritage is considered to be a plant of national interest and may be subject to management measures, if these are deemed necessary. This species has been included in the Red Data Book for the Maltese Islands since it has a restricted distribution on our islands.
More information may be obtained by e-mail: nature.requests@mepa.org.mt.
The United Nations declared 2010 to be the International Year of Biodiversity. Malta, together with many other countries around the globe, is carrying out a number of initiatives to celebrate life on earth and the value of biodiversity for our lives. We are all invited to take action in 2010 to safeguard the variety of life on earth: biodiversity.