Sea lily: an olfactory experience over sand-dunes on serene summer nights

Sea lily (lat. Pancratium maritimum) is a species native to the Mediterranean and South-west European region. It grows on beaches and coastal sand dunes. Its presence in Greece has been attested since prehistoric times. The earliest artistic representations of the beautiful flowers of the sea daffodil are found on frescos in Crete and Santorini; they are depicted on archeological murals in the palace of Knossos (Crete) and the frescos displaying lilies at Akrotiri on Santorini island.

It is a perennial bulbous plant with a long neck and beautiful white flowers which give off a wonderful and subtle scent; this lily scent is mainly apparent during windless summer nights. It blooms from August to October. Whereas in the past sea lilies were spread all over Greek coasts from Thrace in the North to Crete in the South, today the species is threatened with extinction due to the excessive human-induced activities on coasts.