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Frankenia
Also called Sea Heath, Sea Heaths
Frankenia (sea heath) is the only genus in the Frankeniaceae family of flowering plants. Other genera have been recognized within the family, such as Anthobryum, Hypericopsis and Niederleinia, but molecular phylogenetic studies have consistently shown that they all belong inside Frankenia. Frankenia comprises about 70–80 species of shrubs, subshrubs and herbaceous plants, adapted to saline and dry environments throughout temperate and subtropical regions. A few species are in cultivation as ornamental plants.
A few species of Frankenia are grown as ornamental plants, particularly in rock gardens and similar situations, where they can form spreading mats. Recommended species in the United Kingdom include F. hirsuta, F. laevis and F. thymifolia, all with white to rose purple flowers.
Frankenia has a widespread but patchy distribution throughout temperate and subtropical areas of the world, being absent from the tropics. In North America, it is found in Mexico and some western and southern states of the U.S. In South America, it also has a western and southern distribution. In Eurasia and Africa, it occurs around the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, extending northwards to Great Britain, southwards to South Sudan, and eastwards to India. It is also native to southern Africa and Australia. Frankenia species are halophytes (salt tolerant) and xerophytes (drought tolerant). They are found in coastal and arid regions.
Frankenia capitata · Frankenia cordata · Quartz Sea Heath · Hairy Sea Heath · James' seaheath · Johnston's seaheath · Sea Heath · Palmer's seaheath · Sea Heath · St Helena tea · European seaheath · Alkali seaheath
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Frankenia by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts are shared under the same licence.
