Frankenia pulverulenta L.

Spice In the field

Family: FRANKENIACEAE

Genus: Frankenia

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. Tarragona.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Some regions

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Terophyte.

Habitats: Litoral marshes and riparian. Beaches and dunes, sandy soils. Rocky coastlines. Salty soils.

Characteristics: A characteristic plant of in saline clay soils. It branches out densely from the base, and the branches, usually very long, always stretched out along the ground. The leaves are flat and wide at the top, this feature allows us to distinguish it quickly from other species of Frankenia, which have curled leaves; moreover it is annual, whereas the others are perennial and woody at the base. The flowers are small and pink. At the end of its cycle the whole plant usually adopts reddish colours. It flowers in spring.