Frankenia salina = Frankenia grandifolia
Alkali Heath

FRANKENIACEAE

Genus named from John Frankenius, Professor of Botany in Sweden who made the first checklist of Swedish plants. Also a colleague of Linnaeus. Species name refers to salt. Also called Yerba Reuma (Spanish).

Description

Low perennial upper marsh sub-shrub, 0.2-0.6m (0.5-2 feet) high, with short, opposite leaves with smooth edges. The small conspicuous flowers (rare for a saltmarsh species) are white to dark pink or blue-purple and bloom from June to October.

Range and Habitat

Found in upper levels of coastal salt marshes from central California to Bahia San Quintin, Baha California. Varieties of this species also occur in inland alkaline areas.

Conservation Status

Good.