The World Flora Online

SELECTED REFERENCES Gaskin, J. F. et al. 2004. A systematic overview of Frankeniaceae and Tamaricaceae from nuclear rDNA and plastid sequence data. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 91: 401–409. Kubitzki, K. 2003b. Frankeniaceae. In: K. Kubitzki et al., eds. 1990+. The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants. 10+ vols. Berlin etc. Vol. 5, pp. 209–212.

Herbs, subshrubs, or shrubs, perennial or, rarely, annual. Stems rounded to noticeably angled. Leaves opposite, simple, petiolate or sessile, , estipulate, paired leaves connate basally by membranous, sheathing margins with stiff, white hairs, flattened and appressed to stem; petiole narrow to broad, fleshy to flattened and chartaceous; blade margins entire. Inflorescences solitary flowers or terminal or axillary, simple or compound dichasia (frequently with some monochasial branching), bracteate; bracts [2]4, basally connate (rarely incompletely connate). Flowers bisexual [unisexual]; sepals 4–6[–7], persistent, connate, ribbed; petals 4–6[–7], distinct, clawed basally, limb spreading, scalelike appendage or ligule embryo straight; endosperm present.

Herbs or shrublets; leaves opposite, exstipulate, often small and ericoid Ovary superior, sessile, 1-celled, with 2–4 parietal placentas; ovules numerous; style simple, filiform Capsule enclosed in the persistent calyx, opening by valves Seeds with endosperm; embryo straight, axile Sepals 4–6, persistent, connate, induplicate-valvate Flowers actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, solitary r cymose, small Stamens usually 6, hypogynous, free or shortly connate at the base; anthers 2-celled, didymous, dehiscing longitudinally Petals as many as the sepals, free, clawed, with a scale-like appendage on the inside, imbricate Ovary superior, sessile, 1-celled, with 2–4 parietal placentas; ovules numerous; style simple, filiform Capsule enclosed in the persistent calyx, opening by valves Seeds with endosperm; embryo straight, axile Sepals 4–6, persistent, connate, induplicate-valvate Flowers actinomorphic, hermaphrodite, solitary r cymose, small Stamens usually 6, hypogynous, free or shortly connate at the base; anthers 2-celled, didymous, dehiscing longitudinally Petals as many as the sepals, free, clawed, with a scale-like appendage on the inside, imbricate

Herbs, subshrubs, or shrubs. Leaves simple, small, opposite, petiolate [or sessile], with salt glands; paired leaves united at base by sheathing margins; leaf blade flattened [to subterete], margin entire, slightly to gradually [to strongly] revolute. Flowers hermaphroditic [rarely unisexual], small, actinomorphic, sessile, subtended by [2 or]4 leaflike floral bracts, solitary or clustered in terminal or axillary, simple or compound dichasia (frequently with some monochasial branching). Calyx persistent, tubular, ribbed, [4 or]5[-7]-dentate. Petals [4 or]5[-7], free, imbricate, with spreading limb, clawed at base, with a scalelike appendage or ligule present [rarely absent] on adaxial face of claw. Stamens [3-]6[to many]; filaments free or slightly united at base; anthers 2-thecate, extrose, longitudinally dehiscent. Pistil 1, consisting of (1-)3(or 4) carpels; ovary superior, 1-loculed; ovules numerous on parietal placentas [to fewer, rarely 1]; style solitary, slender; style branches [1-]3[or 4], as many as carpels. Capsule included in persistent calyx, loculicidally dehiscent. Seeds [1 to] numerous, small; testa thinly crustaceous; embryo immersed in endosperm.