Abronia

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Abronia
Yellow Sand Verbena (Abronia latifolia)
Yellow Sand Verbena (Abronia latifolia)
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Genus: Abronia
Juss.

species
See text
Abronia villosa
Abronia ameliae

Abronia, the sand-verbena, is a genus of about 35-40 species of annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the family Nyctaginaceae. Despite the common name, they are not related to the vervains (Verbena, family Verbenaceae).

They are native to western North America, from Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming south to west Texas, California and northern Mexico, growing on dry sandy soils. They make very attractive garden plants for hot, dry sandy sites.

Selected species

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 and external links

  • 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