Seasonal Wild Flowers

Sea-heath

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.

For a map see the National Biodiversity Network Gateway

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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Next page: Sea Knotgrass

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