''Frankenia'' (sea heath) is the only
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
in the Frankeniaceae
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
of
flowering plant
Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s.
[ Other genera have been recognized within the family, such as ''Anthobryum'', ''Hypericopsis'' and ''Niederleinia'',][ but ]molecular phylogenetic
Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
studies have consistently shown that they all belong inside ''Frankenia''. ''Frankenia'' comprises about 70–80 species of shrubs, subshrubs and herbaceous plant
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.
Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous"
The fourth edition of t ...
s, adapted to saline and dry environments throughout temperate and subtropical regions.[ A few species are in cultivation as ]ornamental plant
Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...
s.
Description
''Frankenia'' species are salt tolerant (halophytic
A halophyte is a salt-tolerant plant that grows in soil or waters of high salinity, coming into contact with saline water through its roots or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs and seashores. T ...
) or drought tolerant (xerophytic
A xerophyte (from Greek ξηρός ''xeros'' 'dry' + φυτόν ''phuton'' 'plant') is a species of plant that has adaptations to survive in an environment with little liquid water, such as a desert such as the Sahara or places in the Alps or th ...
) shrub
A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...
s, subshrubs or herbaceous plant
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials.
Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous"
The fourth edition of t ...
s. They have opposite, simple leaves, generally small and somewhat heather-like, and often with salt-excreting glands in sunken pits. Their flowers are small, either solitary or borne in various kinds of cyme. Each flower has four to seven sepal
A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...
s, joined at the base into a tube, and four to seven overlapping petal
Petals are modified Leaf, leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They are often advertising coloration, brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. All of the petals of a flower are collectively known as the ''c ...
s, narrowed at the base. The stamen
The stamen (plural ''stamina'' or ''stamens'') is the pollen-producing reproductive organ of a flower. Collectively the stamens form the androecium., p. 10
Morphology and terminology
A stamen typically consists of a stalk called the filame ...
s are often arranged in two whorls of three each. The ovary
The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus, where it may become fertilized by a sperm. There is an ovary () found on each side of the body. ...
is made up of one to four carpel
Gynoecium (; ) is most commonly used as a collective term for the parts of a flower that produce ovules and ultimately develop into the fruit and seeds. The gynoecium is the innermost whorl of a flower; it consists of (one or more) ''pistils'' ...
s (usually three). The fruit is a capsule, enclosed in the persistent sepals. The seeds have a central embryo with considerable starchy endosperm
The endosperm is a tissue produced inside the seeds of most of the flowering plants following double fertilization. It is triploid (meaning three chromosome sets per nucleus) in most species, which may be auxin-driven. It surrounds the embryo and ...
on each side.[
Frankenia chilensis (8671695325).jpg, Flowers of '']Frankenia chilensis
''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 h ...
''
Frankenia ericifolia kz1.jpg, Salt glands on the leaves of ''Frankenia ericifolia
''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 h ...
''
Frankenia pauciflora - Flickr - Kevin Thiele.jpg, ''Frankenia pauciflora
''Frankenia pauciflora'', the common sea-heath or southern sea-heath, is an evergreen shrub native to southern Australia. It is part of the Frankenia genus of the Frankeniaceae family.
It can be prostrate or may grow up to 0.5 m in height. Pink ...
''
Taxonomy
The genus ''Frankenia'' was erected by Carl Linnaeus
Carl Linnaeus (; 23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), also known after his ennoblement in 1761 as Carl von Linné Blunt (2004), p. 171. (), was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, taxonomist, and physician who formalised binomial nomenclature, the ...
in 1753,[ with three species, the first named being '']Frankenia laevis
''Frankenia laevis'', commonly sea heath, is a low shrub in the family Frankeniaceae. It is native to south-west Europe and Britain and to northwestern Africa, including Macaronesia. It grows on the coast. It is rare in Britain.
Distribution
...
''.[ The genus name honours Johan Franck or Frankenius (1590–1661), a professor of botany at Uppsala, Sweden.][ Linnaeus initially used an artificial system to group genera (his ]systema sexuale
Systema (russian: Система, Sistema, system) is a Russian martial art. There are multiple schools of systems that began appearing after the end of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, with teachers claiming their respective "systems" (usually ...
). Later, he and other botanists adopted "natural" systems of classification, using orders or families. Augustin Saint-Hilaire
Augustin François César Prouvençal de Saint-Hilaire (4 October 17793 September 1853) was French botanist and traveller who was born and died in Orléans, France. A keen observer, he is credited with important discoveries in botany, notably the ...
in 1815 was the first to suggest, tentatively, that ''Frankenia'' might be the type of a new family.[ His suggestion was formalized in a publication edited by ]Nicaise Auguste Desvaux
Nicaise Auguste Desvaux (28 August 1784 – 12 July 1856) was a French botanist.
From 1816 he taught classes in Angers, where from 1817 to 1838 he served as director of its botanical garden. He described the botanical genera ''Neslia'', ''Mycenast ...
in 1817.[
At least six genera have been recognized within the family Frankeniaceae at various times.][ Only ''Frankenia'' is accepted .][ Genera that have been recognized include ''Hypericopsis'' Boiss. (not ''Hypericopsis'' Opiz which is a synonym of '']Hypericum
''Hypericum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hypericaceae (formerly considered a subfamily of Clusiaceae). The genus has a nearly worldwide distribution, missing only from tropical lowlands, deserts and polar regions. Many ''Hype ...
''), ''Anthobryum'' and ''Niederleinia''. ''Hypericopsis'', with the sole species ''Hypericopsis persica'', was still accepted by Klaus Kubitzki
Klaus Kubitzki (born 1933) is a German botanist. He is an Emeritus professor in the University of Hamburg, at the Herbarium Hamburgense. He is known for his work on the systematics and biogeography of the angiosperms, particularly those of the ...
in 2003; however a morphological study published in the same year concluded that ''Hypericopis'' belonged in ''Frankenia''.[ A ]molecular phylogenetic
Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
study in 2004 reached the same conclusion.[
]
Phylogeny and classification
The family Frankeniaceae is placed in the order Caryophyllales
Caryophyllales ( ) is a diverse and heterogeneous order of flowering plants that includes the cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, beets, and many carnivorous plants. Many members are succulent, having fleshy stems or leaves. The betalai ...
in the APG IV system
The APG IV system of flowering plant classification is the fourth version of a modern, mostly molecular-based, system of plant taxonomy for flowering plants (angiosperms) being developed by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG). It was publishe ...
.[ A summary ]phylogenetic tree
A phylogenetic tree (also phylogeny or evolutionary tree Felsenstein J. (2004). ''Inferring Phylogenies'' Sinauer Associates: Sunderland, MA.) is a branching diagram or a tree showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological spec ...
of the Caryophyllales shows that Frankeniaceae belongs outside the core Caryophyllales, and that its closest relationship is with the tamarisk family, Tamaricaceae
The Tamaricaceae, the tamarisk family, are a family of plants native to drier areas of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It contains four genera: ''Tamarix'' (with 73 species), ''Reaumuria'' (25 species), ''Myricaria'' (13 species), and '' Myrtama'' (a s ...
.[
Studies of the relationships within the genus have used a limited number of species. A ]cladogram
A cladogram (from Greek ''clados'' "branch" and ''gramma'' "character") is a diagram used in cladistics to show relations among organisms. A cladogram is not, however, an evolutionary tree because it does not show how ancestors are related to d ...
for seven species suggests that Australian species may be more closely related to Eurasian and African species than to those from the Americas.[
]
Species
, the following species were accepted by Plants of the World Online
Plants of the World Online (POWO) is an online database published by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. It was launched in March 2017 with the ultimate aim being "to enable users to access information on all the world's known seed-bearing plants by ...
:[
*'']Frankenia adpressa
''Frankenia'' (sea heath) is the only genus in the Frankeniaceae family (biology), family of flowering plants. Other genera have been recognized within the family, such as ''Anthobryum'', ''Hypericopsis'' and ''Niederleinia'', but Molecular phyl ...
'' Summerh.
*'' Frankenia ambita'' Ostenf.
*''Frankenia boissieri
''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 h ...
'' Reut. ex Boiss.
*'' Frankenia brachyphylla'' (Benth.) Summerh.
*'' Frankenia bracteata'' Turcz.
*'' Frankenia bucharica'' Basil.
*''Frankenia capitata
''Frankenia capitata'' is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae, native to southern Macaronesia (the Canary Islands, Madeira
)
, anthem = ( en, "Anthem of the Autonomous Region of Madeira")
, song_type = Regional anthem
, ima ...
'' Webb & Berthel.
*''Frankenia chevalieri
''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 ...
'' Maire
*''Frankenia chilensis
''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 h ...
'' C.Presl ex Schult. & Schult.f.
*'' Frankenia chubutensis'' Speg.
*''Frankenia cinerea
''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 h ...
'' A.DC.
*'' Frankenia conferta'' Diels
*''Frankenia confusa
''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 h ...
'' Summerh.
*'' Frankenia connata'' Sprague
*''Frankenia cordata
''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 h ...
'' J.M.Black
*'' Frankenia corymbosa'' Desf.
*'' Frankenia crispa'' J.M.Black
*''Frankenia cupularis
''Frankenia'' (sea heath) is the only genus in the Frankeniaceae family (biology), family of flowering plants. Other genera have been recognized within the family, such as ''Anthobryum'', ''Hypericopsis'' and ''Niederleinia'', but Molecular phyl ...
'' Summerh.
*'' Frankenia decurrens'' Summerh.
*'' Frankenia densa'' Summerh.
*''Frankenia desertorum
''Frankenia'' (sea heath) is the only genus in the Frankeniaceae family (biology), family of flowering plants. Other genera have been recognized within the family, such as ''Anthobryum'', ''Hypericopsis'' and ''Niederleinia'', but Molecular phyl ...
'' Summerh.
*''Frankenia drummondii
''Frankenia'' (sea heath) is the only genus in the Frankeniaceae family (biology), family of flowering plants. Other genera have been recognized within the family, such as ''Anthobryum'', ''Hypericopsis'' and ''Niederleinia'', but Molecular phyl ...
'' Benth.
*'' Frankenia eremophila'' Summerh.
*''Frankenia ericifolia
''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 h ...
'' C.Sm. ex DC.
*''Frankenia fecunda
''Frankenia'' (sea heath) is the only genus in the Frankeniaceae family (biology), family of flowering plants. Other genera have been recognized within the family, such as ''Anthobryum'', ''Hypericopsis'' and ''Niederleinia'', but Molecular phyl ...
'' Summerh.
*'' Frankenia fischeri'' Hicken
*''Frankenia flabellata
''Frankenia'' (sea heath) is the only genus in the Frankeniaceae family (biology), family of flowering plants. Other genera have been recognized within the family, such as ''Anthobryum'', ''Hypericopsis'' and ''Niederleinia'', but Molecular phyl ...
'' Sprague
*'' Frankenia foliosa'' J.M.Black
*''Frankenia fruticosa
''Frankenia fruticosa'' is a species of Frankeniaceae native to Knersvlakte, South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by ...
'' J.C.Manning & Helme
*''Frankenia georgei
''Frankenia'' (sea heath) is the only genus in the Frankeniaceae family (biology), family of flowering plants. Other genera have been recognized within the family, such as ''Anthobryum'', ''Hypericopsis'' and ''Niederleinia'', but Molecular phyl ...
'' Diels
*'' Frankenia glomerata'' Turcz.
*'' Frankenia gracilis'' Summerh.
*'' Frankenia gypsophila'' I.M.Johnst.
*'' Frankenia hamata'' Summerh.
*''Frankenia hirsuta
''Frankenia hirsuta'' is a species of plant in the family Frankeniaceae
''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'', ...
'' L.
*'' Frankenia hispidula'' Summerh.
*'' Frankenia interioris'' Ostenf.
*''Frankenia irregularis
''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 h ...
'' Summerh.
*''Frankenia jamesii
''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 h ...
'' Torr. ex A.Gray
*''Frankenia johnstonii
''Frankenia johnstonii'' is a species of flowering plant known by the common name Johnston's seaheath, or Johnston's frankenia. It is native to southern Texas in the United States and northern Nuevo León in Mexico, where there are about 30 occur ...
'' Correll
*''Frankenia juniperoides
''Frankenia'' (sea heath) is the only genus in the Frankeniaceae family (biology), family of flowering plants. Other genera have been recognized within the family, such as ''Anthobryum'', ''Hypericopsis'' and ''Niederleinia'', but Molecular phyl ...
'' (Hieron.) M.N.Correa
*''Frankenia laevis
''Frankenia laevis'', commonly sea heath, is a low shrub in the family Frankeniaceae. It is native to south-west Europe and Britain and to northwestern Africa, including Macaronesia. It grows on the coast. It is rare in Britain.
Distribution
...
'' L.
*'' Frankenia latior'' Sprague & Summerh.
*'' Frankenia laxiflora'' Summerh.
*''Frankenia leonardorum
''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 h ...
'' Alain
*'' Frankenia magnifica'' Summerh.
*''Frankenia margaritae
''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 h ...
'' Medrano
*'' Frankenia microphylla'' Cav.
*'' Frankenia muscosa'' J.M.Black
*''Frankenia orthotricha
''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 h ...
'' (J.M.Black) J.M.Black
*'' Frankenia pallida'' Boiss.
*''Frankenia palmeri
''Frankenia palmeri'' is a species of flowering plant in the frankenia family, Frankeniaceae, known by the common name Palmer's seaheath, Palmer's frankenia, or yerba reuma. It is native to the coastline of northwestern Mexico, as well as San Die ...
'' S.Watson
*'' Frankenia parvula'' Turcz.
*'' Frankenia patagonica'' Speg.
*''Frankenia pauciflora
''Frankenia pauciflora'', the common sea-heath or southern sea-heath, is an evergreen shrub native to southern Australia. It is part of the Frankenia genus of the Frankeniaceae family.
It can be prostrate or may grow up to 0.5 m in height. Pink ...
'' DC.
*''Frankenia persica
''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 ...
'' (Boiss.) Jaub. & Spach
*''Frankenia planifolia
''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 ...
'' Sprague & Summerh.
*'' Frankenia plicata'' Melville
*''Frankenia pomonensis
''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 h ...
'' Pohnert
*''Frankenia portulacifolia
''Frankenia portulacifolia'', also called Saint Helena tea or tea plant, is a species of salt-tolerant plant in the Frankeniaceae family. It is endemic to the islands of Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Its natural habitats are inho ...
'' (Roxb.) Spreng.
*''Frankenia pseudoflabellata
''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 h ...
'' Summerh.
*'' Frankenia pulverulenta'' L.
*'' Frankenia punctata'' Turcz.
*'' Frankenia repens'' (P.J.Bergius) Fourc.
*''Frankenia salina
''Frankenia salina'', often called alkali heath or alkali seaheath, is a perennial herb native to California, Nevada, Mexico and Chile. It is uncommon even in the region where it is most likely to be found, just north of the San Francisco Bay Are ...
'' (Molina) I.M.Johnst.
*''Frankenia salsuginea
''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 h ...
'' Adigüzel & Aytaç
*'' Frankenia scabra'' Lindl.
*'' Frankenia serpyllifolia'' Lindl.
*''Frankenia sessilis
''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 h ...
'' Summerh.
*'' Frankenia setosa'' W.Fitzg.
*'' Frankenia stuartii'' Summerh.
*''Frankenia subteres
''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 h ...
'' Summerh.
*'' Frankenia tetrapetala'' Labill.
*'' Frankenia thymifolia'' Desf.
*'' Frankenia triandra'' J.Rémy
*''Frankenia tuvinica
''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 h ...
'' Lomon.
*''Frankenia uncinata
''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 h ...
'' Sprague & Summerh.
*''Frankenia vidalii
''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 h ...
'' Phil.
Distribution and habitat
''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
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
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 Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ea ...
, the Black Sea
The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, Roma ...
and the Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia; east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia ...
, extending northwards to Great Britain
Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...
, southwards to South Sudan
South Sudan (; din, Paguot Thudän), officially the Republic of South Sudan ( din, Paankɔc Cuëny Thudän), is a landlocked country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia, Sudan, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the C ...
, and eastwards to India. It is also native to southern Africa and Australia.[ ''Frankenia'' species are ]halophyte
A halophyte is a salt-tolerant plant that grows in soil or waters of high salinity, coming into contact with saline water through its roots or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs and seashores. T ...
s (salt tolerant) and xerophyte
A xerophyte (from Ancient Greek language, Greek ξηρός ''xeros'' 'dry' + φυτόν ''phuton'' 'plant') is a species of plant that has adaptations to survive in an environment with little liquid water, such as a desert such as the Sahara or pl ...
s (drought tolerant).[ They are found in coastal and arid regions.][
]
Cultivation
A few species of ''Frankenia'' are grown as ornamental plant
Ornamental plants or garden plants are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars that i ...
s, particularly in rock garden
A rock garden, also known as a rockery and formerly as a rockwork, is a garden, or more often a part of a garden, with a landscaping framework of rocks, stones, and gravel, with planting appropriate to this setting. Usually these are small A ...
s and similar situations, where they can form spreading mats. Recommended species in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
include ''F. hirsuta'', ''F. laevis'' and ''F. thymifolia'', all with white to rose purple flowers.[
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from1=Q5238121, from2=Q131509, from3=Q5552044, from4=Q31759222, from5=Q17394471, from6=Q5905755, from7=Q6042758
Caryophyllales genera