Frankenia serpyllifolia explained

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.

Description

Frankenia serpyllifolia is a small, spreading herb to high and in diameter covered with short spreading hairs. The leaves are arranged opposite, long, wide, flat, exude salt, oval to oblong-shaped, flat or margins curved downward. The flowers are pink, mostly 5 petalled, petals 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 long. Flowering occurs mostly in spring.^{[1] [2]}

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.^{[3] [4]} The specific epithet (serpyllifolia) means "wild thyme-leaved".^[5]

Distribution and habitat

Bristly sea-heath grows on heavy soils or flood plains in South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Frankenia serpyllifolia . eFloraSA-Flora of South Australia . State Herbarium of South Australia . 30 May 2023.
2. Web site: Barnsley . B. . Frankenia serpyllifolia . Flora of Australia . Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Climate Change, the Environment and Water . 30 May 2023.
3. Web site: Frankenia serpyllifola . Australian Plant Name Index . 30 May 2023.
4. Lindley . J. . Journal of an Expedition into the Interior of Tropical Australia . 1848 . 305 . 30 May 2023.
5. Book: George . A.S . Sharr . F.A . Western Australian Plant Names and their meanings . 2021 . Four Gables . Kardinya . 9780958034197 . 315 . 4th.
6. Web site: Miller . C. . Frankenia serpyllifolia . PlantNET-NSW flora online . Royal Botanic Garden Sydney . 2 June 2023.