With bluish-grey, narrow, long, spirally-twisted leaves, this plant is characteristic of dunes found on sandy beaches.

It is known as sea daffodil, since it is found close to the sea and the flower is daffodil-like. Its Maltese name is narċis il-baħar or pankrazju, the latter coming from its scientific name Pancratium maritimum.

Maritimum clearly indicates that the plant is found close to the sea.

The bulbs are deeply buried, to withstand strong winds and rain water. Flowering takes place in late summer to early autumn, when the leaves would have already withered. The fragrant flowers are white. The centre of the flower has the shape of a trumpet or bell, with the male parts at the tip. This crown-shaped structure at the centre is surrounded by six long and narrow "petals", referred to in this case as tepals. The female part of the plant is found below the flower parts.

The fruit is a capsule containing charcoal-black seeds.

This outer protective black cover actually has a soft texture, which protects the true hard pale brown seeds inside.

It provides insulation, noting the hot sand in summer days. The seeds were used as a laxative.

Though widespread across the Mediterranean, this plant is rare in Malta, in view of the limited extent of sand dunes.

Both the habitat and the plant itself are afforded protection in Malta, and one should not pick, collect, cut, uproot, destroy or damage this unique plant in any way.

Should you require more information, please contact 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.