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. turbinata S. Watson

Annual, rarely perennial herb, glabrous or sparsely glandular-hairy
Stem ascending to erect, < 50 cm
Leaf: petiole 1–5 cm, slender; blade 1–5 cm, broadly ovate to round
Inflorescence: peduncle 3–9 cm; bracts 3–10 mm, lanceolate to ovate; flowers 15–35
Flower: perianth tube 6–18 mm, ± green or pink, limb 5–8 mm wide, white or pale magenta
Fruit 3–7 mm, as wide as long, with generally 5 wings inflated and truncate at top, glandular-hairy at top, glabrous below; wings hollow inside (some fruit with 2 wings folded together)
Ecology: Dry, sandy soil, desert scrub
Elevation: 900–2500 m.
Bioregional distribution: East of Sierra Nevada, Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: se Oregon, w Nevada
Flowering time: May–Jul
Horticultural information: TRY.