" a wilderness of rock - thistle and melancholy asphodel - the drear sea-squill." Lawrence Durell.*

The elegant spikes of the Sea squill, Drimia numidica, grow in a variety of habitats. They tolerate brilliant sunlight to dense shade, appearing rather eerie in the dark pine forests. They are one of the few succulent plants not eaten by goats and often form large colonies along with thistles in neglected fields. The broad shiny green strap like leaves sprout up from the huge bulbs in early winter, dying  back before summer. The purplish flower stems bear many short stalked flowers in a dense spike, the lower flowers opening first, with a band of open flowers gradually progressing up the stem. The flowers have 6 white tepals, fused in the centre, 6 stamens with green anthers and a central nipple like stigma.

The though of a Greek island in autumn, always conjures up a vision of the white spikes of the sea squill against a deep azure sky.