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Abronia ameliae
Abronia ameliae Lundell
Amelia's Sand-verbena, Heart's Delight
Nyctaginaceae (Four O'clock Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: ABAM2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
This beautiful flower which grows on the sandy prairies of South Texas is not, as the common name implies, a member of the Verbena Family. The plants are branched and sometimes sprawling, and sticky or gummy all over. Stems are coarse and hairy. Leaves are opposite, 1-2 inches long and two-thirds as wide, and wavy on the edges with a stem 1/2-1 1/4 inches long. A flower stem grows out of each pair of leaves. The orchid flowers grow in umbel-like round clusters, 2 inches across with 40 or more individual florets. The florets are 1 inch long, tubular, with 5 petal-like lobes, each deeply cut and very delicate. There are 3-5 stamens. When the flower goes to seed it looks like a cushion filled with pin.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Fruit Type: Accessory
Size Notes: Up to about 18 inches tall.
Flower: Flowers in 2 inch heads.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: PinkBloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Distribution
USA: TXNative Habitat: Open woodlands, Roadsides
Growing Conditions
Water Use: MediumLight Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Sandy
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Blooms ornamental, Planned landscape, Garden, Showy, ColorUse Wildlife: Nectar-Butterflies, Nectar-Moths, Nectar-insects
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsDescription: Fall-sown seed
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-1010 Collected 2007-04-05 in Brooks County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 355 - Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (1991) Miller, G. O.Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Search More Titles in Bibliography
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Abronia ameliae in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Abronia ameliae in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Abronia ameliae
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-04-18Research By: TWC Staff