I've been watching this discussion with fascination (and learning a lot). This is as a chemistry major who wished he didn't have to give up biological sciences (in our school system of the time in the UK) so early. My half-pennorth is to observe that at least some botanists seem to think sea spray (high in chloride and containing potassium as well as sodium) is a significant factor in the occurrence of Scilla and related species near coasts here in the West of England. So we have swards of bluebells on open headlands and both autumn and spring Squill occur on cliff-tops near the sea. And it has been suggested to me - again by a botanist - that our bluebell (Hyacinthoides) relies on high potassium wherever it grows naturally - woodland being naturally high in that element from the rotting wood (the old names help here - "potash" literally means what it says - wood ash has a lot of potassium). Oh - and where Pancratium grows it must get a regular dose of neat sea-water.