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. latifolia Eschsch.

Perennial, fleshy, finely glandular-hairy; root deep, thick
Stem prostrate, < 2 m; branches short, forming a dense mat
Leaf: petiole 1–6 cm; blade 2–5 cm, broadly ovate to reniform, thick
Inflorescence: peduncle 1–6 cm; bracts 5–9 mm, ovate; flowers 17–34
Flower: perianth tube 9–12 mm, yellow, limb 8–13 mm wide
Fruit 8–15 mm, net-veined, glabrous or ± hairy, tapered to base and tip; wings 0 or 5
Ecology: Coastal dunes and in coastal scrub
Elevation: < 100 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Central Coast, n South Coast (Santa Barbara Co.)
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia
Hybridizes with A. maritima, A. umbellata.
Horticultural information: sand, DRN, DRY, SUN: 5, 17, 24.