NYCTAGINACEAE

FOUR O'CLOCK FAMILY

Richard Spellenberg

Perennial, shrub, tree, glabrous or hairy
Stem often forked
Leaves opposite, sessile or petioled, pairs generally unequal; blade generally entire
Inflorescence generally forked; of spikes, clusters, or umbels, each unit sometimes with a calyx-like involucre
Flower bisexual, radial; perianth of 1 whorl, petal-like, bell- to trumpet-shaped, base hardened, tightly surrounding ovary in fruit, lobes 4–5, generally notched to ± bilateral; stamens 1–many; ovary superior (appearing inferior because of hardened perianth base), style 1
Fruit: achene or nut, smooth, wrinkled, or ribbed
Genera in family: 30 genera, 300 species: warm regions, especially Am; some ornamental (Bougainvillea ; Mirabilis , four o'clock).

ABRONIA

SAND VERBENA

Annual, perennial herb, generally glandular
Stem prostrate to ascending, generally ± red
Leaf generally fleshy, petioled
Inflorescence: head or umbel; flowers opening together or outer first; receptacle conic, ± smooth
Flower: perianth salverform to trumpet-shaped, generally fragrant, lobes 4–5; stamens 4–5, included; stigma linear, included
Fruit: body fusiform; lobe-like wings (0)2–5 (if present, prominent, opaque, thick, not continuous above fruit body)
Species in genus: 25 species: w North America
Etymology: (Greek: graceful)
[Galloway 1975 Brittonia 27:328–347] Closely related to Tripterocalyx.

Native

A. maritima S. Watson

Perennial, densely glandular-hairy; roots spreading
Stem prostrate, < 2 m; branches short, erect, forming thick horizontal mat
Leaf: petiole 5–30 mm; blade 5–7 cm, thick, broadly elliptic or oblong
Inflorescence: peduncle 3–10 cm; bracts 7–11 mm, lanceolate or narrowly ovate; flowers 10–18
Flower: perianth tube 6–10 mm, limb 7–10 mm wide, deep wine-red
Fruit 10–14 mm, glandular-hairy near top, with 5 thick wings angled at top, tapered to base, coarsely net-veined
Ecology: Coastal dunes
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: s Central Coast, South Coast
Distribution outside California: Baja California
Hybridizes with A. latifolia, A. umbellata.
Horticultural information: sand, DRN, DRY, SUN: 17, 24.