Pancratium illyricum

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamilia: Amaryllidoideae
Tribus: Pancratieae
Genus: Pancratium
Species: Pancratium illyricum
Name

Pancratium illyricum L., Sp. Pl. 1: 291. 1753.
Synonyms

Homotypic
Almyra illyrica (L.) Salisb., Gen. Pl.: 109. 1866, nom. inval.
Zouchia illyrica (L.) Raf., Fl. Tellur. 4: 22. 1838.

Heterotypic
Pancratium stellare Salisb., Trans. Linn. Soc. London 2: 74. 1794.
Almyra stellaris (Salisb.) Salisb., Trans. Hort. Soc. London 1: 336. 1812.
Halmyra stellaris Salisb. ex Parl., Nuov. Gen. Sp. Monocot.: 28. 1854.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Europe
Regional: Southwestern Europe
Corse, Sardegna
Regional: Southeastern Europe
Italy (I. di Capri)

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Linnaeus, C. 1753. Species Plantarum. Tomus I: 291. Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2018. Pancratium illyricum in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2018 Aug. 06. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2018. Pancratium illyricum. Published online. Accessed: Aug. 06 2018.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Pancratium illyricum in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 07-Oct-06.

Vernacular names
Deutsch: Illyrische Trichternarzisse
français: Pancrace d'Illyrie
svenska: Liten strandlilja

Pancratium illyricum is a species of bulbous plant native to Corsica, Sardinia and the Capraia Islands of Tuscany.

Pancratium illyricum grows on rocky slopes and sparse woodland areas, from sea level to more than 1300 m above sea level. It is a bulbous perennial with glaucous leaves, 30–60 cm long, 1½–½ cm wide. Leaves whither after flowering time, in early summer, and the plants goes dormant. The scape is up to 45 cm long, and the flowers are clustered in umbels of about 12, and are white with a short corona and very fragrant. Flowers appear in April to June. Pancratium canariense from the Canary Islands is very similar. It has broader leaves, longer flower-stalks and flowers in the autumn.
Etymology

The specific epithet illyricum means "from Illyria", a region in the western Balkans. It is not well suited as the plant does not grow there. The Italian name is "giglio stella" = star lily.
Cultivation

Easy to grow and flowers freely if planted near a south facing wall. Slow to increase. It is the hardiest Pancratium - USDA zone 8 and probably 7 in sheltered position with a southern aspect. Full sun in cooler climates, otherwise light shade. Propagation by seeds or division.
Pancratium illyricum in Tolla (Corsica).
References

Phillips. R. and Rix. M. (1989) Bulbs'. Pan Books ISBN 0-330-30253-1
Polunin, Oleg (1987) Flowers of Greece and the Balkans - A Field Guide ISBN 0-19-281998-4