What is "eryngium maritimum"

Sea holly \Sea" hol"ly\ (Bot.) An evergeen seashore plant ( Eryngium maritimum). See Eryngium.

Eryngium \E*ryn"gi*um\ ([-e]*r[i^]n"j[i^]*[u^]m), n. [NL., fr. Gr. 'hry`ggion, dim. of 'h`ryggos eryngo; cf. L. eryngion, erynge.] (Bot.) A large genus of umbelliferous plants somewhat like thistles in appearance, cosmopolitan in distribution. Eryngium maritimum, or sea holly, has been highly esteemed as an aphrodisiac, the roots being formerly candied.

Syn: genus Eryngium.

Eryngium maritimum, the sea holly or seaside eryngo, is a species of Eryngium in the plant family Apiaceae and native to most European coastlines. It resembles a plume thistle in that its flower is burr-shaped, but the flowers are metallic blue rather than mauve. Protected from winds this dune plant grows to a height of 20 to 60 cm. Although widespread, it is considered endangered in many areas, such as Germany where its occurrence has been greatly reduced throughout and has become locally extinct in several districts.

In Elizabethan times in England, these plants were believed to be a strong aphrodisiac. They are named in a speech by Falstaff:

Sea holly was nominated the 2002 County flower for the city of Liverpool.