Palmer's seaheath
Frankenia palmeri S.Watson
Frankenia palmeri, commonly known as Palmer's seaheath, is a flowering plant in the family Frankeniaceae. It is native to the coastline of northwestern Mexico and San Diego County, California. This small shrub grows in sand dunes, beaches, alkali flats, and salt marshes, where it is adapted to saline soils. It features fleshy leaves and small white flowers with pink-tinged throats and anthers. The plant is becoming increasingly rare due to habitat loss from coastal development.
Description
Frankenia palmeri is a species of shrub in the Frankeniaceae family, found in coastal areas of northwestern Mexico and San Diego County, California. It typically inhabits sand dunes, beaches, alkali flats, and salt marshes, thriving in saline environments. The plant is small, with spreading stems and clusters of fleshy, knobby leaves. Flowers appear at the ends of branches, with white petals that may have a pink tinge at the throat and pink anthers. The species is threatened by habitat destruction due to coastal development.
Other common names
Palmer's seaheath
Distribution
California · Mexico Northwest