Sea-heath
Large patch of Sea-heath, West Bay, Dorset
Flowers and leaves
5 pink slightly crenate petals, 6 stamens
3- lobed stigma, withered stamens (protandrous)
Whorls of fleshy leaves
Frankenia laevis
Frankeniaceae
July to August
Native plants grows from the wash round to Hampshire.
The introduced plant is found from Dorset round to the Severn
estuary.
See the BSBI distribution map for Sea-heath
It grows on saltmarshes and where saltmarshes and sand dunes
meet, and less commonly on shingle beaches and chalk sea-cliffs.
Sea-heath is a perennial, low-growing, patch-forming, native herb
growing up to 15cm.
Flowers are small (5mm), with 5 pink, slightly crenate petals.
There are 6 stamens with yellow anthers and the style has a
3-lobed stigma.
Leaves are up to 4mm long, fat and fleshy.
They, and the stems, are often tinged with purple - hence
the purple patch in the first picture.
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Large patch of Sea-heath, West Bay, Dorset
Flowers and leaves
5 pink slightly crenate petals, 6 stamens
3- lobed stigma, withered stamens (protandrous)
Whorls of fleshy leaves
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