Frankenia serpyllifolia

Frankenia serpyllifolia, commonly known as bristly sea-heath is a flowering plant in the family Frankeniaceae and grows in New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory. It is a small, spreading shrub with pink flowers.

Bristly sea-heath
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Frankeniaceae
Genus: Frankenia
Species:
F. serpyllifolia
Binomial name
Frankenia serpyllifolia

Description

Frankenia serpyllifolia is a small, spreading herb to 30 cm (12 in) high and 50 cm (20 in) in diameter covered with short spreading hairs. The leaves are arranged opposite, 0.3–0.9 cm (0.12–0.35 in) long, 1–4 mm (0.039–0.157 in) wide, flat, exude salt, oval to oblong-shaped, flat or margins curved downward. The flowers are pink, mostly 5 petalled, petals 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) long, borne singly at leaf axils or clusters of 2-70 flowers at the base of leaves or at the end of stems and the calyx 5–9 mm (0.20–0.35 in) long. Flowering occurs mostly in spring.[2][3]

Taxonomy and naming

Frankenia serpyllifolia was first formally described in 1848 by John Lindley and the description was published in Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia.[4][5]The specific epithet (serpyllifolia) means "wild thyme-leaved".[6]

Distribution and habitat

Bristly sea-heath grows on heavy soils or flood plains in South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.[7]

References
  1. "Frankenia serpyllifolia". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  2. "Frankenia serpyllifolia". eFloraSA-Flora of South Australia. State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  3. Barnsley, B. "Frankenia serpyllifolia". Flora of Australia. Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, the Environment and Water. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  4. "Frankenia serpyllifola". Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  5. Lindley, J. (1848). "Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia": 305. Retrieved 30 May 2023. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. George, A.S; Sharr, F.A (2021). Western Australian Plant Names and their meanings (4th ed.). Kardinya: Four Gables. p. 315. ISBN 9780958034197.
  7. Miller, C. "Frankenia serpyllifolia". PlantNET-NSW flora online. Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
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