Borrichia frutescens (Sea oxeye)

Borrichia frutescens (L.) DC.

Sea oxeye

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Asterales	Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family	Asteraceae	The aster family, which also includes daisies and sunflowers; from the Greek ἀστήρ, “star,” for the star-shaped flowers
Genus	Borrichia	For Danish botanist Olaf Borrick
Species	frutescens	“Shrubby”

About plant names...

This salt-tolerant member of the aster family is found in saltwater marshes, tidal flats, and lagoons. It is native to the southeastern United States.

Plants: These shrubby plants form colonies. Plants are 24-48" (60-121 cm) high.

Leaves: Leaves are fleshy, opposite, gray-green, obovate, and fuzzy, with fine hairs on both sides, 2-4" (5-10 cm) long.

Flowers: Flowers are yellow, appearing July-August. A single flower appears atop each stem. Each flower has 15-30 yellow rays and brownish-yellow flowers in the central disc. The central disc contains 20-75 ray florets.

Fruits: Ray flowers fall off, leaving a central brown dome of sharp projections. A single barely noticeable 4-sided achene, shaped like a pointed tooth and ¹/₁₆-⅛" (3-4 mm) long, is produced in each flowerhead.

Online References:

Borrichia frutescens at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Borrichia frutescens on gcrl.usm.edu (Propagation guide)

Borrichia frutescens at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

Borrichia frutescens at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Borrichia frutescens on eFloras

4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida
≈ 6 × 4½" (14 × 11 cm)

4/12/2015 · Biscayne National Park, Florida City, Florida
≈ 4½ × 4" (11 × 10 cm)

Borrichia frutescens description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

4/12/2015 · Biscayne National Park, Florida City, Florida
≈ 10 × 7" (25 × 16 cm)

4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida
≈ 9 × 6" (22 × 15 cm)

4/12/2015 · Biscayne National Park, Florida City, Florida
≈ 7 × 5" (17 × 12 cm)

4/13/2015 · Flamingo Campground, Everglades National Park, Florida
≈ 6 × 4½" (16 × 12 cm)

Range: Zones 10-11:

About this map...