Frankenia L. Frankenia pulverulenta, L.

1. Frankenia L. View in CoL 3

Annual or perennial. Flowers sessile, solitary or in leafy cymes or spikes. Petals and sepals usually 5; calyx tubular, persistent;

petals imbricate. Outer whorl of stamens shorter than the inner. Ovary sessile, of 3(-4) carpels; ripe capsule enclosed in calyx.

Literature: R. Nègre, Trav. Inst. Sci. Chérif. ser. bot., 12 (1957).

1 Annual; leaves obovate or oblong-spathulate, usually plane

1. pulverulenta 1 Perennial, woody at base; leaves with revolute margins, appearing linear or linear-lanceolate

2 Stemsprocumbent,mat-forming

3 Flowers scattered throughout the upper parts of the stems and branches, not confined to terminal corymbiform clusters 5. laevis 3 Flowers confined to dense corymbiform clusters which are terminal on the main stems or branches 6. hirsuta

2 Stems erect or ascending, often caespitose

4 Flowers in long, terminal, secund spikes; leaves completely covered with a white, calcareous crust 4. thymifolia

4 Flowers mostly clustered in dense terminal cymes; leaves mostly not completely covered by a white crust

5 Calyx 4-6 mm, with hairs c. 0-5 mm 2. boissieri

5 Calyx 2-3 mm, with hairs c. 04 mm 3. corymbosa

1. F. pulverulenta L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 332 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Annual; stems up to 30 cm, procumbent, often mat-forming, rarely erect, sparsely or densely puberulent. Leaves 1—5(—8) x 0-5-4 mm, obovate to oblong-spathulate, usually plane, glabrous or sparsely puberulent above, densely puberulent beneath, without a white crust. Flowers crowded, secund, in short terminal and axillary spikes. Calyx 2-5^4 mm, puberulent or subglabrous. Petals 3-5-5 mm, oblong to obovate, pale or deep violet. Maritime sands and shingle, and saline areas inland. S. & S.E. Europe. Al Az BI Bu Co Cr Ga G r Hs It Ju Lu Rm Rs (W, K, E) Sa Si.