Common Name:

General Information

Frankenia pulverulenta is a prostrate annual plant, richly branched from the base, with stems 6 - 30cm long[, ].
We have found no known traditional uses for this plant, but research has shown that the plant has potential as an antiviral in the treatment of Herpes simplex virus.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Widespread in warm temperate and subtropical, mainly arid and subarid egions; especially in the Mediterranean, S. Africa and central Asia

Habitat

High-salinity grasslands of floodlands, by lakes, always on moist and slightly alkaline soils in desert regions; at elevations from 1,200 - 1,500 metres[].

Properties

Habit	Annual
Height	0.10 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Frankenia pulverulenta has a very wide range both as a native and an introduced naturalized plant. It is found mainly in the Mediterranean regions of the world, also being found in the more continental climate of central Asia and western China.
The plant is almost always found in the wild in moist saline soils, often on land that can be seasonally flooded.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Both acetonic and methanolic extracts of the aerial parts of the plant inhibited Herpes simplex virus propagation, with not much Vero cells destruction[]. The plant has been shown to contain several flavanols, which are believed to be at least partially responsible for this activity[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed -