Abronia latifolia

The perennial flower Abronia latifolia or Abronia arenaria[2] is a species of sand-verbena known commonly as the coastal, or yellow sand-verbena. It is native to the west coast of North America, from southern California to the Canada–United States border.

Yellow sand-verbena
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Genus: Abronia
Species:
A. latifolia
Binomial name
Abronia latifolia
Synonyms[1]
  • Abronia arenaria Menzies ex Hook.
  • Tricratus arenarius (Menzies ex Hook.) Spreng.

The plant bears attractive neatly rounded heads of small, bright golden flowers. The individual flowers have no petals; rather, they are composed of yellow bracts forming a trumpet-shaped calyx about the stamens. It bears a small, winged fruit. The plant grows in succulent mats on sand or other coastal substrate. The roots are stout, fusiform and often several feet long. These roots are edible, traditionally eaten by the Chinook Indians.[2] This plant is seen exhibiting psammophory, a method by which plants save themselves from herbivores by attracting sand to their body making them difficult to be eaten.[3] It needs salt water, not fresh water, and will not tolerate extreme drought.[4]

References
  1. "Abronia latifolia Eschsch". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2020-02-13.
  2. Sturtevant, Edward (1919). Sturtevant's notes on edible plants. Albany: J.B. Lyon company, State printers. p. 17.
  3. http://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2016/4/5/sand-armor?rq=fantastic
  4. "Sand Verbena, Abronia latifolia". calscape.org. Retrieved 2020-02-13.

Sources
  • Munz, Philip A. (2003). Introduction to Shore Wildflowers of California, Oregon, and Washington. Berkeley: University of California Press.


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