Sea Onion
Sea onion (Urginea maritima = Drimia maritima, Hyacinthaceae)
English: sea onion, sea squill, red squill
Ibicencan: ceba marina, cebolla
French: scille maritime
This plant is rather toxic and must never be used carelessly. In former times it was even used as a rat poison. It is abundant on Formentera and also frequent on Ibiza.
On the Pityuses it is believed that it has properties against erysipelas. The plant with roots and leaves is put under the bed as a preventive against this disease. To treat the disease, the juice of the onion is applied on the infected skin.
An extract of the bulb has invigorating effects. Preparates are used to strengthen the heart.
In ancient times the raceme of the sea onion was used to predict the future harvest.
Some peasants put sea onions around fruit trees to protect them from ants.
