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Abronia villosa S. Watson

Desert sand verbena

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassCaryophyllidaeCacti, many other succulents, carnivorous plants, and leadworts
OrderCaryophyllalesIncludes cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, and many carnivorous plants
FamilyNyctaginaceaePlants with unique fruits (“anthocarps”) and large pollen grains
GenusAbroniaSand-verbenas or wild lantanas
SpeciesvillosaMeans “hairy”—stems are fuzzy

About plant names...

Desert sand verbena is a desert-tolerant variety, a native to the west coast of North America. Like other sand verbenas, it is found in loose sandy soils.

Identification: All verbenas have hemispherical flowerheads composed of tiny flowers. The neat round "flowers" are really bracts (modified leaves)—the plant does not have petals. These plants are usually less than six inches high, forming low mats. The foliage is gray-green in color, and the stems are fuzzy. Desert sand verbena is found in the Mojave Desert, in creosote bush scrub at elevations below 5000′ (1.5 km). Desert sand verbena looks similar to pink sand verbena (see below), but it is found in more arid settings. (It can occur on beaches though.)

 

Abronia villosa (desert sand verbena)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)

Abronia villosa (desert sand verbena)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

 
Abronia umbellata
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Abronia villosa
Common Name

pink sand verbena

desert sand verbena
Plant Less than 6″ (15 cm) high, spreading in mats. Less than 6″ (15 cm), in mats up to about 1½′ (50 cm) wide.
Flowers

 

Pink to purple, with white centers.

 

Magenta, purple to pink. Sweet-smelling. Centers are not white.
Leaves Thick, succulent, oval or diamond-shaped. Dull gray-green, oval-shaped.
Stem Often hairy. Very hairy, sticky.
Range/ Zones

Type Wild Wild

 

Online References:

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Desert-tropicals.com

Find Me a Cure, an alternative medicine site

CalPhotos (many photos)

Oceanlight.com, a natural history stock photography site by Phillip Colla

Abronia villosa (desert sand verbena)

4/15/2003 · Near Chiricahua National Monumen, Ari­zona · By Constance B. Kent ID is uncertain

Abronia villosa (desert sand verbena)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm)

Abronia villosa (desert sand verbena)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm)

 

Abronia villosa description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 13 Jul 2023.

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Abronia villosa (desert sand verbena)

2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Cali­fornia · ≈ 2 × 1′ (62 × 41 cm)

Abronia villosa (desert sand verbena)

4/15/2003 · Near Chiricahua National Monumen, Ari­zona · By Constance B. Kent ID is uncertain

Range:

About this map...