114 FRANKENIACEE (Harv.) [Frankenia. 
versatile. Ovary free, unilocular, with 3-4 parietal placente and nu- 
merous ovules ; style single, filiform. Capsule enclosed in the calyx, 
many seeded, splitting. Seeds minute, albuminous, withan axile embryo. 
Small, heathlike perennials or undershrubs, inhabiting salt-marshes or sea coasts. 
Stems much branched, jointed and knotted ; leaves opposite, alternate or whorled, 
or densely tufted, very entire, and often linear, with revolute margins. Flowers soli- 
tary or cymose, sessile, fugacious, pink or purple. 
A small Order, of which less than thirty species are known, but these are scattered 
along the shores of the four quarters of the world. They resemble in habit some of 
the Caryophyllex, from which their placentation and the structure of their seeds se- 
parate them. In foliage they look like small heaths ; whence the English name 
‘‘Sea-heath.” Their true affinities are not very clearly ascertained, but they are 
generally considered to be related to Violaceze and Turneracee. Their properties 
and uses are unimportant. Beatsonia portulacifolia, a sea coast plant of St. Helena, 
is said to have been once used in that island as a substitute for Tea. 
IL FRANKENIA, Linn. 
Calyx tubular, 4~5-fid, ribbed and furrowed, Petals 4-5, hypogy- 
nous, with long claws. Stamens 6, rarely 5, hypogynous. Ovary sessile, 
one-celled, with 3—5 parietal placenta ; ovules few, style filiform ; stigma 
tripartite. DC. Prod. 1. p. 349. Endl. Gen. No. 5053. 
Small, perennial, herbaceous or suffruticose plants, with diffuse, rarely erect, wiry 
stems ; small, heathlike, opposite or alternate, frequently fascicled leaves ; and sessile 
flowers in terminal cymes. Petals purple or pink, very delicate and soon withering ; 
calyces hard and dry, remaining as a permanent case to the capsule. There are se- 
veral species (though not nearly so many as have been made by botanists), inhabiting 
salt marshes and sea-coasts in most parts of the temperate zones, north and south. 
In England they are called Sea-Heaths. The botanical name is given in honour of 
J. Franken, formerly Professor of Medicine at Upsala, Sweden. 
1, F. capitata (Webb & Berth. Fl. Canar 1. p, 131. t. 16) ; stems 
woody, prostrate or ascending, much branched, glabrous or hairy ; leaves 
linear, glabrous, with strongly revolute margins ; petioles short, ciliated, 
petals much longer than the glabrous, puberulous or hispid calyx. 
Var. , levis; stems and calyces quite glabrous. F. levis, Linn.DC. 
Prod. 1. p. 349. . Bot. t.205. HE. § Z. 241. 
Var. 8. hebecaulon ; stems velvetty ; calyces subglabrous. Lowe. Mad. 
Pp. 48. 
He. ts 
T.C.D., 
