Frankenia johnstonii: taxon details and analytics
- Domain
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Phylum
- Tracheophyta
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Order
- Caryophyllales
- Family
- Frankeniaceae
- Genus
- Frankenia
- Species
- Frankenia johnstonii
- Scientific Name
- Frankenia johnstonii
Summary description from Wikipedia:
Frankenia johnstonii
Frankenia johnstonii is a species of flowering plant known by the common name Johnston's seaheath, or Johnston's frankenia. It is native to southern Texas in the United States and northern Nuevo León in Mexico, where there are about 30 occurrences known. The plant was federally listed as an endangered species in the United States in 1984. It was found to be more abundant than previously thought and it was proposed for delisting in 2003.
In 1984 there were only 6 populations known, all on privately owned land, and the plants appeared to be in poor condition and were reproducing slowly. Most plants observed had been trimmed down by grazing cattle, which also appeared to alter the habitat itself. Fewer than 2000 plants were counted and it was placed on the endangered species list of the United States. By 2003 many more populations had been discovered and it was suggested the plant be removed from the endangered species list. As of 2011 it was still listed.
This is a shrub which grows in open landscapes on soils rich in salts and gypsum. It grows alongside other halophiles such as saladillo (Varilla texana). It is gray-green to blue-green in color for most of the year except fall, when it turns bright red. The wiry stems may just exceed half a meter tall and the shrub takes on a rounded appearance. The small grayish or bluish leaf blades are coated in white hairs. The plant may bloom anytime between September and May, especially after rain falls. The flower is white with a yellow center. The plant makes very few seeds.
While the plant is no longer considered endangered there are still threats to its survival, such as petroleum exploration and the clearing of brush.
...Frankenia johnstonii in languages:
- English
- Johnston's sea heath
Images from inaturalist.org observations:
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Parent Taxon
Sibling Taxa
- Frankenia adpressa
- Frankenia ambita
- Frankenia boissieri
- Frankenia brachyphylla
- Frankenia bracteata
- Frankenia bucharica
- Frankenia capitata
- Frankenia chevalieri
- Frankenia chilensis
- Frankenia chubutensis
- Frankenia cinerea
- Frankenia composita
- Frankenia conferta
- Frankenia confusa
- Frankenia connata
- Frankenia cordata
- Frankenia corymbosa
- Frankenia crispa
- Frankenia cupularis
- Frankenia decurrens
- Frankenia densa
- Frankenia desertorum
- Frankenia drummondii
- Frankenia eremophila
- Frankenia ericifolia
- Frankenia fecunda
- Frankenia fischeri
- Frankenia flabellata
- Frankenia foliosa
- Frankenia fruticosa
- Frankenia georgei
- Frankenia glomerata
- Frankenia gracilis
- Frankenia gypsophila
- Frankenia hamata
- Frankenia hirsuta
- Frankenia hispidula
- Frankenia interioris
- Frankenia irregularis
- Frankenia jamesii
- Frankenia johnstonii
- Frankenia juniperoides
- Frankenia laevis
- Frankenia latior
- Frankenia laxiflora
- Frankenia leonardorum
- Frankenia magnifica
- Frankenia margaritae
- Frankenia microphylla
- Frankenia muscosa
- Frankenia orthotricha
- Frankenia pallida
- Frankenia palmeri
- Frankenia parvula
- Frankenia patagonica
- Frankenia pauciflora
- Frankenia persica
- Frankenia planifolia
- Frankenia plicata
- Frankenia pomonensis
- Frankenia portulacifolia
- Frankenia pseudoflabellata
- Frankenia pulverulenta
- Frankenia punctata
- Frankenia repens
- Frankenia salina
- Frankenia salsuginea
- Frankenia scabra
- Frankenia serpyllifolia
- Frankenia sessilis
- Frankenia setosa
- Frankenia stuartii
- Frankenia subteres
- Frankenia tetrapetala
- Frankenia thymifolia
- Frankenia triandra
- Frankenia tuvinica
- Frankenia uncinata
- Frankenia vidalii