Abronia fragrans
(Snowball Sand-verbena)
Abronia fragrans, Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Baca Co. 9437
Abronia fragrans, Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Baca Co. 9447
Abronia fragrans, Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Baca Co. 9466
Abronia fragrans, Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Baca Co. 9471
Abronia fragrans, Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Baca Co. 9457
Abronia fragrans, Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Baca Co. 9463
Abronia fragrans, Picture Canyon, Comanche National Grassland, Baca Co. 9458
| Scientific Name | Abronia fragrans | USDA PLANTS Symbol | ABFR2 |
| Common Name | Fragrant Sand Verbena, Snowball Sand Verbena | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 19557 |
| Family | Nyctaginaceae (Four O'clock) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Plains and foothills (3500 to 8000 ft.); dry, sandy soils in scrub and grasslands. Plant: Trailing to semi-erect perennial; stems 8 to 40 inches long, moderately branched, greenish or straw-colored and covered in gland-tipped hairs. Leaves: Mostly basal leaves with some pairs of opposite stem leaves; blades are ovate to triangular or lanceolate, 1.2 to 4.7 inches long and 0.8 to 3 inches wide, rounded to pointed tip, and smooth or slightly wavy edges; petioles are 0.2 to 3.1 inches long; glandular-pubescent upper leaf surface, densely pubescent lower surface. Inflorescence: Dense, rounded clusters of 30 to 80 flowers at the ends of nodding peduncles; long, narrow, cream, pale yellow, corolla with 5 reflexed lobes, tube 1/3 to 1-inch long with a pinkish base; each flower with 5 lanceolate-ovate sepals, 1/4-inch or less in length, pink to reddish with glandular hairs; beneath the heads are 5 thin, yellowish-green, becoming tan, linear-lanceolate to ovate bracts, 1/4 to 1 inch long. Bloom Period: May to August. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, American Southwest and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains