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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. villosa S. Watson

Annual, glandular-hairy
Stem prostrate to ascending, < 80 cm
Leaf: petiole 0.5–5 cm; blade 1–5 cm, 1–4.5 cm wide, triangular-ovate to ± round
Inflorescence: peduncle 2–10 cm; bracts 3–11 mm, lanceolate to narrowly ovate; flowers 15–35
Flower: perianth tube 1.3–3.5 cm, ± pink, limb 6–18 mm wide, pale to bright magenta
Fruit 5–10 mm; base of floral tube hardened as a beak on top of fruit body; wings 3–5, thin, rounded or angled, or 0
Ecology: Sandy places in creosote-bush or coastal-sage scrub
Elevation: < 1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: South Coast, Desert
Distribution outside California: s Nevada, sw Arizona, nw Mexico
Hybridizes with A. gracilis.

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