Abronia, the sand-verbenas or wild lantanas, is a genus of about 20 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the family Nyctaginaceae. Despite the common names, they are not related to Verbena (vervains) or lantanas in the family Verbenaceae. They are closely allied with Tripterocalyx.
They are native to western North America, from Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada, south to west Texas, California, Baja California and central Mexico, growing on dry sandy soils. Abronia macrocarpa, a Texas endemic, is protected under the Endangered Species Act. Abronia ammophila, the Yellowstone sand verbena, is a plant unique to Yellowstone National Park's lakeshores and is endemic to the park. Only a few species are widespread, and many are quite rare. They make very attractive garden plants for hot, dry sandy sites.
Species Image Name Distribution Abronia × alba Eastw. (A. maritima × A. umbellata)CaliforniaAbronia alpina Brandeg. Tulare County, CaliforniaAbronia ameliae LundellFrom British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico Abronia ammophila GreeneYellowstone National ParkAbronia angustifolia GreeneUnited States (Texas, New Mexico, Arizona) and Northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila). Abronia bigelovii HeimerlNew MexicoAbronia elliptica A.Nels.Wyoming to NW. New MexicoAbronia fragrans Nutt. ex Hook.Northern Arizona to western Texas and Oklahoma, and south to Chihuahua, Mexico Abronia glabrifolia Standl.Utah to NW. Colorado Abronia gracilis Benth.S. California to Mexico (Baja California)Abronia latifolia Eschsch.southern California to southern British ColumbiaAbronia macrocarpa L.A.Gallowayeastern TexasAbronia maritima Nutt. ex S.Watsonsouthern California, including the Channel Islands, and northern Baja CaliforniaAbronia mellifera Douglas ex Hook.Northwestern United States (Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and Utah) Abronia × minor Standl.(A. latifolia × A. umbellata)CaliforniaAbronia nana S.WatsonColorado to N. Arizona Abronia nealleyi Standl.S. New Mexico to W. TexasAbronia pogonantha HeimerlCalifornia and NevadaAbronia turbinata Torr. ex S.Watsoneastern California and Oregon and western NevadaAbronia umbellata Lam.British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico.Abronia villosa S.Watsonsouthwestern United States and northern Mexico Formerly placed here Tripterocalyx carneus (Greene) L.A.Galloway (as A. carnea Greene) Tripterocalyx crux-maltae (Kellogg) Standl. (as A. crux-maltae Kellogg) Tripterocalyx micranthus (Torr.) Hook. (as A. micrantha Torr.) Tripterocalyx wootonii Standl. (as A. wootonii (Standl.) Tidestr.)
Cultivation and uses The stout, sweet root of Abronia fragrans and Abronia latifolia, sometimes over 60 cm long, can be eaten as a root vegetable.
References
Galloway, LA. 1976. Systematics of the North American desert species of Abronia and Tripterocalyx (Nyctaginaceae). Brittonia 27 (4): 328-347 (1975 publ. 1976) Flora of North America: Abronia
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