About Abronia maritima Nutt. ex S.Watson
Nomenclature
Abronia maritima Nutt. ex S.Watson is a species of sand verbena with the common name red sand verbena.
Native Range
It is a beach-adapted perennial plant native to the coastlines of southern California (including the Channel Islands) and northern Baja California.
Habitat
It grows on stable sand dunes that lie near the ocean surf, but not within the surf itself.
Salinity Requirements
As a halophyte, it requires saline water that it mostly receives in the form of sea spray, and it cannot tolerate fresh water or prolonged dry conditions.
Salt Adaptation
Its succulent tissues are adapted to isolate and store salt.
Growth Form
This sand verbena grows into a low green mat along the ground, and its stems are sometimes buried under loose sand.
Flower Characteristics
It produces clusters of bright red to pink or purplish flowers year-round.
Ecological Role
The thick mats it forms provide shelter for many types of small beach-dwelling animals.
Rarity and Threats
This is a rare plant, because its habitat is in heavily used beach areas where it is disturbed by human activity.
