Frankenia salina (Molina) I.M. Johnston
Alkali heath (syn. F. grandifolia Cham. & Schldl.)
Family: Frankeniaceae
Habit: Shrub, spreading from rhizomes to 3 dm., pink flowered.
Distribution: Commonly found along ocean bluffs, salt marshes, and mesas of the central and southern California coast and Channel Islands, interior deserts to Nevada, Mexico and South America.
Seed unit: Fruit is a many (1 to 20) seeded linear capsule; free seeds are the seed unit.
Seed: 1 to 1.5 mm. with ellipsoid shape.
Embryo: Linear embryo and endosperm.
Purity instructions: Pure seed definition:
AOSA: PSU#1 – Seed, with or without seed coat; broken seed larger than one-half the original size.
Lab notes: Occasionally seeds must be removed from capsules prior to planting in some samples.
Average pure seed units per gram: 5,500 seeds per gram (based on AOSA pure seed units only from 14 samples received for testing from 1996 to 2001).
Range of percent pure seed: 1% to 12%
Range of percent inert: 87% to 99%
Description of inert: Plant material, dead insects.
Planting instructions: 400 seeds, TB, 21 days @ 20°C; for fresh and dormant seed, prechill recommended.
References: (link to main reference page)
Hickman, J.C., Ed. 1993. p. 664
Ransom Seed Laboratory
