XAbronia villosa - Desert Sand VerbenaX
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Desert Sand Verbena -or- Chaparral Sand-Verbena (Abronia villosa), family Nyctaginaceae (Four-O'clock Family)
The beautiful Desert Sand Verbena is an annual plant but is successful in re-seeding itself for the new season. It has been known to spread over the desert floor in a glorious wash of pink for miles. The plants are quite sticky and will retain a coating of sand but still thrive.
USES: The Native American people of the Paiute and Shoshoni tribes used this species for medical applications: Used as an urinary inducer. Poultice of mashed roots applied to burns.
There are two varieties of Abronia villosa: var. villosa and var. aurita
Flower -
Plant location: Amboy - California - February 21, 2017
Species is found in the following United States: AZ, CA, NV, UT. Populations of Abronia villosa in Utah are classified as critically imperiled. See the BONAP distribution map, here. Plant -
Bloom season: February through July
Habitat is dry desert.Foliage -
Amboy - California - February 21, 2017
A new flower head 'under construction'. -
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Amboy - California - February 21, 2017
View of just how sticky this species is, but healthy despite the coating of sand. -
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