Frankenia palmeri S.Watson

Taxonomy and Naming

Frankenia palmeri is a species of flowering plant in the frankenia family, Frankeniaceae. It has three common names: Palmer's seaheath, Palmer's frankenia, and yerba reuma.

Native Range

This plant is native to the coastline of northwestern Mexico, and also to San Diego County, California in the United States.

Habitat

It grows in sand dunes, beaches, alkali flats, and salt marshes, and thrives in these habitats because it is adapted to saline soils.

Size and Growth Form

It is a small, tangling shrub that grows less than one meter tall. It has spreading stems lined with clusters of knobby, fleshy leaves.

Flower Placement

Flowers grow among the leaf clusters toward the ends of its branches.

Flower Characteristics

Each flower has white petals that are 3 to 4 millimeters long. The petals are often tinted pink near the flower throat, and the flowers have pink anthers.

Conservation Status and Threats

This plant is growing increasingly rare, because its coastal habitat, located on commercially and developmentally valuable land, is being lost to development.