Citation: A. DC., Linnaea 25:575 (1852).

Synonymy: F. maidenii Ostenf., Dansk bot. Ark. 2, 8:52 (1918).

Common name: None

Description:
Small shrubs; branches differentiated into long- and short-shoots, sparsely to densely puberulent, hairs spreading, internodes 0.5-9.5 mm long; long-shoot leaves 1-3.6 mm long, decurrent, true node situated in the lower third of the leaf; leaf bases extremely reduced with the leaf blades extending below the point of insertion; leaf blades 0.7-1.2 mm wide, ovate, oblong or rhombic, subterete, coriaceous; margins thickened, tightly revolute on fresh, dried and boiled material; mid-vein narrow, linear to somewhat broadened at the base, inconspicuous to abaxially raised; surfaces grey-green, adaxial surface glabrous, abaxial surface puberulent throughout or mid-vein glabrous; short-shoot leaves similar to long-shoot leaves.

Flowers borne at the top node of the upper branches, in terminal sometimes highly branched dichasia, or solitary, subtended by whorls of 4 leaf-like unequal floral bracts connate to incompletely fused at the base; calyces usually 5- sometimes 4-lobed, 4.2-8 mm long, c. 2 mm wide near the apex, tubular, gradually broadening toward the apex, indurate, puberulent throughout or centres of ribs glabrous, margins and grooves puberulent, hairs spreading; petals 5, spathulate, 5.5-9.5 mm long; stamens 6, in 2 unequal whorls, 5.5-7.5 mm long; styles 4.2-5.3 mm long; style-branches usually 3, sometimes 2, 1-1.9 mm long, bearing terminal terete to slightly swollen stigmas 0.2-0.5 mm long; ovaries with typically 3, sometimes 2, basal-parietal or parietal-basal placentae, 0.6-1.4 mm high, extending up the lower one-third to three-fourths of the ovary wall; ovules c. 13-23, attached along the entire placenta.

Fruits 1-3-seeded, seeds 0.7-0.9 mm long.

Published illustration: Barnsley (1982) Flora of Australia 8:fig. 28c & d).

Distribution:  S.Aust.: NW, NU.   W.Aust. Conservation status: native Flowering time: July — Dec.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Frankenia cinerea is one of a group of closely related species centered in W.Aust. which includes F. brachyphylla, F. decurrens and F. punctata.

Author: Not yet available