Frankenia salina
Encyclopedia
The perennial herb Frankenia salina, often called alkali heath or alkali seaheath, is native to California
. It is occasionally found in Nevada and Mexico, but its range is limited. It is uncommon even in the region where it is most likely to be found, just north of the San Francisco Bay Area
.
It is a squat flowering bush that forms a twiggy thicket near beaches and coastal salt marshes
. Its common name refers to its preference for alkaline soils
, a halophyte
. It has the ability to excrete salt as an adaptation for living in saline habitats. The flowers are pink or fuchsia in color.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is occasionally found in Nevada and Mexico, but its range is limited. It is uncommon even in the region where it is most likely to be found, just north of the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
.
It is a squat flowering bush that forms a twiggy thicket near beaches and coastal salt marshes
California coastal salt marsh
California's coastal salt marsh is a wetland Plant community that occurs sporadically along the Pacific coast from Humboldt Bay to San Diego. This salt marsh type is found in bays, harbors, inlets and other protected areas subject to tidal flooding....
. Its common name refers to its preference for alkaline soils
Alkali
In chemistry, an alkali is a basic, ionic salt of an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal element. Some authors also define an alkali as a base that dissolves in water. A solution of a soluble base has a pH greater than 7. The adjective alkaline is commonly used in English as a synonym for base,...
, a halophyte
Halophyte
A halophyte is a plant that grows where it is affected by salinity in the root area or by salt spray, such as in saline semi-deserts, mangrove swamps, marshes and sloughs, and seashores. An example of a halophyte is the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora . Relatively few plant species are...
. It has the ability to excrete salt as an adaptation for living in saline habitats. The flowers are pink or fuchsia in color.