Irish wildflowers BSBI map

Sea-holly, Eryngium maritimum, Cuileann trá
Greggane Strand, Rosscarberry, Co. Cork

Sea-holly
Eryngium maritimum
Cuileann trá
Family: Apiaceae

Flowering time: June-August. Perennial. Native.

Round heads of tiny pale-blue flowers with prickly bracts, the fruit covered with short spines. The leaves are blue-green with conspicuous white veins, broad and leathery, 3-5 lobed and with very spiny edges. A hairless, bushy, rigid plant with stiff, erect stems. Height 30-60cm

Coastal on sand or shingle beaches and dunes where it can sometimes be locally frequent.

Sea Holly, Eryngium maritimum, Cuileann trá

Sea-holly, Eryngium maritimum, Cuileann trá
Sea-holly, Eryngium maritimum, Cuileann trá

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