THALAMIFLORiE 127 



There are no properties of any economic import- 

 ance possessed by the plants of this order. 



Sea Heath (Franhenia Icevis). 



As the first part of the EngHsh name of this rather 

 rare or local plant implies, it is a maritime species, 

 and heath-like in adaptation, having cricoid or narrow 

 leaves as a means of meeting the dry conditions in its 

 particular habitat. 



Very rare as a whole, it occurs on the south and 

 east coasts of England, from Norfolk to Kent. It 

 grows in the salt-marsh formation, on sandy soil in 

 the Sea Rush association, with Sea Milkwort, Sea 

 Plantain, Buckshorn Plantain, Couchgrass, and in 

 the Marams or general salt-marsh association, with 

 Scurvy Grass, Sea Spurrey, Sea Aster, Sea Worm- 

 wood, Sea Lavender, etc. I have found it in the 

 Blakeney area only on the laterals to the main 

 shingle bank to the east of the watch-house. Else- 

 where it is found on sandy coasts. 



The habit is that of a prostrate undershrub. The 

 stem is slightly downy, dark green, much-branched, 

 the branches wiry. The leaves are linear, oblong, 

 but rolled back at the margin and so linear, adapted 

 to drought, and are crowded in opposite clusters or 

 whorls, smooth, fringed with hairs at the base. The 

 leaves are sometimes pulverulent or powdery. 



The flowers are few, rose-coloured, stalkless, 

 terminal, in heads or spikes in the axils. 



The calyx is furrowed, and hairy between the 



