Frankenia johnstonii
Encyclopedia
Frankenia johnstonii is a species of flowering plant known by the common name Johnston's seaheath, or Johnston's frankenia. It is native to southern Texas
in the United States and northern Nuevo León
in Mexico, where there are about 30 occurrences known. The plant was federally listed as an endangered species
in the United States in 1984. It was found to be more abundant than previously thought and it was proposed for delisting in 2003.
In 1984 there were only 6 populations known, all on privately owned land, and the plants appeared to be in poor condition and were reproducing slowly. Most plants observed had been trimmed down by grazing cattle, which also appeared to alter the habitat itself. Fewer than 2000 plants were counted and it was placed on the endangered species list of the United States. By 2003 many more populations had been discovered and it was suggested the plant be removed from the endangered species list. As of 2011 it was still listed.
This is a shrub
which grows in open landscapes on soils rich in salts and gypsum
. It grows alongside other halophile
s such as saladillo (Varilla texana). It is gray-green to blue-green in color for most of the year except fall, when it turns bright red. The wiry stems may just exceed half a meter tall and the shrub takes on a rounded appearance. The small grayish or bluish leaf blades are coated in white hairs. The plant may bloom anytime between September and May, especially after rain falls. The flower is white with a yellow center. The plant makes very few seeds.
While the plant is no longer considered endangered there are still threats to its survival, such as petroleum exploration and the clearing of brush.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
in the United States and northern Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
in Mexico, where there are about 30 occurrences known. The plant was federally listed as an endangered species
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
in the United States in 1984. It was found to be more abundant than previously thought and it was proposed for delisting in 2003.
In 1984 there were only 6 populations known, all on privately owned land, and the plants appeared to be in poor condition and were reproducing slowly. Most plants observed had been trimmed down by grazing cattle, which also appeared to alter the habitat itself. Fewer than 2000 plants were counted and it was placed on the endangered species list of the United States. By 2003 many more populations had been discovered and it was suggested the plant be removed from the endangered species list. As of 2011 it was still listed.
This is a shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
which grows in open landscapes on soils rich in salts and gypsum
Gypsum
Gypsum is a very soft sulfate mineral composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate, with the chemical formula CaSO4·2H2O. It is found in alabaster, a decorative stone used in Ancient Egypt. It is the second softest mineral on the Mohs Hardness Scale...
. It grows alongside other halophile
Halophile
Halophiles are extremophile organisms that thrive in environments with very high concentrations of salt. The name comes from the Greek for "salt-loving". While the term is perhaps most often applied to some halophiles classified into the Archaea domain, there are also bacterial halophiles and some...
s such as saladillo (Varilla texana). It is gray-green to blue-green in color for most of the year except fall, when it turns bright red. The wiry stems may just exceed half a meter tall and the shrub takes on a rounded appearance. The small grayish or bluish leaf blades are coated in white hairs. The plant may bloom anytime between September and May, especially after rain falls. The flower is white with a yellow center. The plant makes very few seeds.
While the plant is no longer considered endangered there are still threats to its survival, such as petroleum exploration and the clearing of brush.