Abstract of a manuscript in review based on work funded in part by the Australian Flora Foundation.

Seed mineral nutrient contents in Australian species of Frankenia L. (Frankeniaceae).
Lyndlee C. Easton, Sonia Kleindorfer
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100,
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia, 5001.
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We examine the relationship between seed mineral nutrient contents and seed mass in Australian species of the genus Frankenia L. This genus includes two divergent reproductive strategies – some species have flowers with a low number of ovules and accordingly, produce fruit with a few larger seeds, while other species have flowers with numerous ovules and thus produce fruit with a large number of smaller seeds. Both strategies occur in nutrient poor soils. The proportion of mineral elements allocated to seed production was consistent between Frankenia species despite variations in seed packaging strategies, soil characteristics, and environmental conditions. However, the proportions in three mineral elements (sodium, boron, and copper) were significantly different between seed packaging strategies, and the proportion of one mineral element (nickel) was significantly different between species.