Common sea-heath | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Frankeniaceae |
Genus: | Frankenia |
Species: | F. pauciflora |
Binomial name | |
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 or white flowers are produced between June and February in its native range. It occurs in saline flats, salt marshes, or coastal limestone areas. [1]
The specific epithet pauciflora, referring the Latin words paucus, meaning few, and florus meaning flower, referring to the fact that the species produces few flowers. [2] [3]
The currently recognised varieties are: [4]
Frankenia pauciflora is characterized as a halophyte and as such is found to localize in sandy soils, salt floats, salt marshes, and coastal limestones. [5] The plant subsists in environments with a soil class of S2 and S3 which is described as moderately to highly saline soil. [6] The species is a xerophyte, a drought-tolerant plant and survives in environments with sustained predictable dry periods followed by periods of moist soil. Frankenia pauciflora can subsist in a range of soil pHs ranging from acidic to alkaline. In addition, the plant tolerates hot overhead sun to warm low sun and is characterized as is shade tolerant. [5]
The species occurs in Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania, where it is represented by the variety F. p. var. gunnii which only grows on Flinders, Short, and Harcus Islands. [7] [8] The species is generally considered not threatened, but F. p. var gunnii is considered rare as it only has a small population located in Tasmania that may be at more risk. Var. fruticulosa is found primarily in Southern Australia; [9] var. longifolia is found in Western and Southern Australia, [10] and var. pauciflora is found in only Western Australia. [11]
Individuals of this species are prostrate perennial shrubs up to 0.5 m in height. [12] It forms many branches that create a thick mat-like structure. It produces fleshy, linear grey-green leaves reaching up to 2 cm, somewhat resembling thyme. The leaves can range for hairless to densely haired.
Its flowers are 2 cm across, stalkless and are generally pink, but sometimes white. The flowers have four to six petals that usually have irregular edges. [13] The flowers bloom either solitary at the base of stalks or in bunches of 2–25 that can be found either at the base or end of stems. Each flower is supported by 4 bracts. [14] The circular pollen has a tricolpate morphology with a reticulated surface pattern. The species in the Frankenia pauciflora is distinguished from other members of its family by the structure of its ovaries. [14] The female flower has a 3-branched style, while the male flower most commonly has six stamens. [15] The ovaries usually have 3 placentae in a basal or parietal configuration. Each placenta is known to contain 2-6 ovules. [15] The fruit is a small brown cylindrical capsule shape. [16]
Due to its halophytic properties, Frankenia pauciflora’s leaves are covered in minuscule salt crystals. These crystals cover the smooth upper surface of the leaf, which range from 2 to 13 mm long and 0.5 to 2.2 mm wide. [15] Small hairs can be seen on most leaves, mainly on the midrib of the lower surface, along with folded over edges. Its leaves generally wilt and turn brown during drought periods. [13] Var gunnii is distinguished in that they have longer, narrower leaves, and inconspicuous mid vein. [16]
There is one brown seed per fruit capsule, a cylindrical capsule with 5 or 6 ribbed parts measuring 3–7 mm long. The seeds come attached with a pappus-like structure and separate easily from the fruits. Seeds are sprouted during the months of late January to mid-March. [13]
Frankenia pauciflora's bark differs from its trunk versus its younger branches. Its new branches have a smoother, and rusty brown appearance while its trunk contains rough and flaky grey to brown bark. [13]
Frankenia pauciflora does not have a set flowering time, flowering throughout the year but particularly between the months of June and February, and can produce seeds at any time during the year. The flowers of Frankenia pauciflora are insect-pollinated to produce dicotyledon seeds. In particular, the flower of F. p. var gunnii are pollinated by insects in the order Diptera, Hymenoptera and Lepidoptera. [17] It has been found that xenogamy in this species leads to more fruits per flower and more seeds in each fruit compared to autogamy; this was reported to be true in both observational studies and controlled experiments. [17]
The relative simplicity of growth and ability for the plant to adapt to a wide range of soils makes Frankenia Pauciflora an attractive choice for home gardening. Its flame-retardant properties also provide reduced chances of bush-fire spread in risk zones such as Australia when planted surrounding homes.
Frankenia pauciflora provides shelter for many faunae as well as being a food source for a number of insects. Its thick network of fine roots are also useful for providing stability in sediments and floodplains. [13]
Epacris impressa, also known as common heath, is a species of plant in the heath family Ericaceae. It is native to south-eastern Australia. French botanist Jacques Labillardière collected the species in 1793 and described it in 1805. Four forms have been identified, but no subspecies are recognised. Growing in heathland, shrubland or open forest, it is generally a small shrub around 0.5 to 1 m tall, with small stiff leaves. The red, pink or white tube-like flowers appear from late autumn to early spring. Honeyeater birds, particularly the eastern spinebill, feed upon the nectar of the flowers. It regenerates after bushfire by seed or by resprouting.
Nothofagus gunnii, the tanglefoot or deciduous beech, is a deciduous shrub or small tree endemic to the highlands of Tasmania, Australia. It was described in 1847 by R.C Gunn N. gunnii is a small woody tree with a shrubby appearance known to grow up to 8 metres (26 ft). It lives only on mountains due to temperature limitations within the Tasmanian maritime climate and mainly grows at altitudes greater than 800 metres (2,600 ft) above sea level. It grows in alpine and sub-alpine regions in the central portions of the island. Though capable of reaching the size of a small tree, it is most common as a thick shrub or woody ground cover, hence its common name of "tanglefoot".
Epacris is a genus of about forty species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. It was formerly treated in a closely related but separate family Epacridaceae, but the various genera within Epacridaceae including Epacris have been revised in their relationships to each other and brought under the common umbrella of the Ericaceae. The genus Epacris is native to eastern and southeastern Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand. The species are known as heaths or Australian heaths.
Persoonia, commonly known as geebungs or snottygobbles, is a genus of about one hundred species of flowering plants in the family Proteaceae. Plants in the genus Persoonia are shrubs or small trees usually with smooth bark, simple leaves and usually yellow flowers arranged along a raceme, each flower with a leaf or scale leaf at the base. The fruit is a drupe.
Banksia ericifolia, the heath-leaved banksia, or lantern banksia, is a species of woody shrub of the family Proteaceae native to Australia. It grows in two separate regions of Central and Northern New South Wales east of the Great Dividing Range. Well known for its orange or red autumn inflorescences, which contrast with its green fine-leaved heath-like foliage, it is a medium to large shrub that can reach 6 m (20 ft) high and wide, though is usually half that size. In exposed heathlands and coastal areas, it is more often 1–2 m (3.3–6.6 ft).
Banksia petiolaris is a rare species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae native to Western Australia, where it is found in sandy soils in the south coastal regions from Munglinup east to Israelite Bay. It was first described by Victorian state botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1864, and no subspecies are recognised. B. petiolaris is one of several closely related species that will all grow as prostrate shrubs, with horizontal stems and thick, leathery upright leaves. Those of this species can be viable for up to 13 years—the longest-lived of any flowering plant recorded. It bears yellow cylindrical flower spikes, known as inflorescences, up to 16 cm high in spring. As the spikes age, they turn grey and develop up to 20 woody seed pods, known as follicles, each.
Atriplex semibaccata, commonly known as Australian saltbush, berry saltbush, or creeping saltbush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Amaranthaceae and is endemic to Australia. It is a perennial herb native to Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and New South Wales, but has been introduced into other states and to overseas countries. It flowers and fruits in spring, and propagates from seed when the fruit splits open. This species of saltbush is adapted to inconsistent rainfall, temperature and humidity extremes and to poor soil. It is used for rehabilitation, medicine, as a cover crop and for fodder. Its introduction to other countries has had an environmental and economic impact on them.
Atriplex cinerea, commonly known as grey saltbush, coast saltbush, barilla or truganini, is a plant species in the family Amaranthaceae. It occurs in sheltered coastal areas and around salt lakes in the Australian states of Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales.
Leucopogon parviflorus, commonly known as coast beard-heath or native currant, is a shrub or small tree in the family Ericaceae. It is native to all Australian states and territories excluding the Northern Territory and the ACT and also grows in New Zealand. The species can grow to between 1 and 5 metres in height and has leaves that are 11 to 29 mm long and 2.4 to 7.5 mm in width, often with curved tips. The white flowers are around 15 mm long and are produced in spikes of 7 to 13. These occur throughout the year.
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 Diego County, California, in the United States. It is a plant of sand dunes, beaches, alkali flats, and salt marshes, where it thrives due to its adaptation to saline soils. This is a small, tangling shrub less than a meter tall with spreading stems lined with clusters of knobby, fleshy leaves. Toward the ends of branches flowers appear among the leaf clusters. Each flower has white petals 3 or 4 millimeters long, often washed with pink toward the throat and with pink anthers. The plant is becoming increasingly rare as its habitat on valuable coastal land is consumed for development.
Persoonia pauciflora, commonly known as the North Rothbury persoonia, is a species of flowering plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It is a small, spreading shrub with bright green, thread-like leaves and a relatively small number of yellow flowers in summer. A recently described species, it is similar to P. isophylla but has fewer and shorter flowers than that species. A very restricted distribution has led to its classification as "critically endangered" under the Australian Government Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Waitzia acuminata, commonly known as orange immortelle, is an annual forb in the family Asteraceae. It is native to Australia. Plants grow to between 10 and 60 cm in height and have leaves that are long and narrow. These are between 2 and 7 cm long and 2 to 5 mm in width. The yellow, orange or white flowers appear between July and January. Waitzia Acuminata occurs in all mainland states of Australia and is currently not considered rare or endangered. Its genus Waitzia is named after German botanist Karl Friedrich Waitz. Acuminata is a latin name describing things that are tapered to a point, named after the plants spindle like outer bracts.
Persoonia muelleri, commonly known as Mueller’s geebung, is a shrub endemic to Tasmania. It forms a shrub in open areas of wet forests in the west and northeast of the state. It is occasionally confused with P. gunnii though it has larger flowers and longer, straighter leaves.
Frankenia 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.
Cap Island Conservation Park is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located about 7.5 kilometres (4.7 mi) offshore, west of Mount Misery, Eyre Peninsula. The park covers Cap Island's 8ha surface. The island consists of a granite base and a calcarenite mantle; its margins steeply over-hanging and eroded. Typical vegetation is a low Nitre Bush shrubland. Cap Island Conservation Park was constituted by statute in 1972 to conserve a sea bird breeding area and Australian Sea-lion and New Zealand Fur-seal haul-out areas.
Patersonia sericea, commonly known as purple flag or silky purple-flag is a species of plant in the iris family Iridaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a densely-tufted perennial herb with linear, sword-shaped leaves, broadly egg-shaped, bluish-violet tepals and an oval capsule.
Robert J. "Rob" Bates is an Australian botanist, plant collector, and illustrator.
Frankenia cordata is a flowering plant in the family Frankeniaceae and grows in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory. It is a small, spreading shrub with pink flowers.
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.
Frankenia jamesii, known by the common names of pearly mockheather and James's sea heath, is a low growing shrub from the south-central United states from southern Colorado to the far western end of Texas. It has small leaves that are reminiscent of needle like leaves of common heather, suggesting one of its common names. It is a member of the Frankenia genus, which is the only genus in the family of flowering plants. It is best known for growing on gypsum soils.