There is only one genus in the Frankeniaceae (sea heath) family, and only one species in the UK - frankenia laevis, out of over 70 worldwide. Plants inhabit saline and/or dry habitats across much of the world, absent only from the tropics and the far north and south. Leaves are short, opposite and undivided, while flowers have between four and seven petals, and the same number of sepals. Flowers may be solitary or clustered.
