Frankenia L.
Frankenia is a genus of ca. 70 species, mainly native to the temperate and subtropical areas of the world (Mabberley 2008). It is particularly well represented in Australia (Summerhayes 2008). Many species are confined to saline soils, for instance Frankenia laevis L., a species that is native in parts of the British Isles and extends to northwestern France, relatively close to the Belgian frontiers. Some species (incl. Frankenia laevis) are cultivated as ornamentals (Knees 1997, Jäger & al. 2008) but so far none has been recorded as an escape in Belgium. A single weedy species, Frankenia pulverulenta L., is sometimes recorded as an alien.
Literature:
Chater A.O. (1968) Frankenia. In: Tutin T.G. & al. (eds.), Flora Europaea, vol. 2. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 294-295.
Gaskin J.F., Ghahremani-nejad F. & Olson M.E. (2003) Stem anatomy is congruent with molecular phylogenies placing Hypericopsis persica in Frankenia (Frankeniaceae): comments on vasicentric tracheids. Taxon 52(3): 525-532.
Jäger E.J. (1992) Die Verbreitung von Frankenia in der Mongolei, in Westeurasien und im Weltmassstab. Flora (Germany) 186(3-4): 177-186.
Jäger E.J., Ebel F., Hanelt P. & Müller G. (eds.) (2008) Rothmaler Band 5. Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen. Springer Verlag, Berlin: 880 p.
Knees S.G. (1997) Frankenia. In: Cullen J. & al. (eds.), The European Garden Flora, vol. 5. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 272-273.
Mabberley D.J. (2008) Mabberley’s plant-book (3th ed.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: XVIII + 1021 p.
Summerhayes V.S. (2008) A Revision of the Australian Species of Frankenia. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 48: 337-387.
Whalen M.A. (1987) Systematics of Frankenia (Frankeniaceae) in North and South America. Syst. Bot. Monogr. 17: 1-93.