Abronia turbinata
Trans montane sand verbena
(c) Jim Morefield, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Nyctaginaceae · Type: Herb · Native
Abronia turbinata (Trans montane sand verbena) is a native California herb in the Nyctaginaceae family, recognized by inflated/collapsed fruit wings and habitat diagnostic.
Trans montane sand verbena is a California native perennial found in southern Sierra Mountains, Sierra Nevada Foothill regions, Tehachapi Range, southern Great Basin, and Mojave Desert in dry, sandy desert scrub habitats at elevations of 900 to 2,500 meters. Flowering from May to July, this plant produces white to pale magenta flowers in clusters of 15 to 35 blooms, with a perianth tube 6 to 18 millimeters long. Growing with ascending to erect stems less than 50 centimeters tall, it remains glabrous or sparsely glandular-hairy. Its leaves are broadly ovate or heart-shaped to round, with slender petioles 1 to 5 centimeters long and leaf blades 1 to 5 centimeters wide. The fruit features distinctive thick, hollow wings that are generally inflated or sometimes collapsed and folded together, measuring 3 to 8 millimeters long.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 4 sympatric species - inflated/collapsed fruit wings and habitat diagnostic
Habitat and range
Habitat: Dry, sandy soil, desert scrub
Elevation: 900-2500 m
California counties: San Bernardino, Mono, Kern, Ventura, Inyo, Lassen, Butte, Sierra
Outside California: southeastern Oregon, western Nevada
Bloom period
Abronia turbinata blooms May-Jul.
How to tell it apart
vs Lantana: Abronia flowers have no true petals (colorful sepals); Lantana has small tubular flowers with 4-5 petals.; vs Calystegia: Abronia has small flowers in dense rounded heads; Calystegia has large solitary funnel-shaped flowers.; vs Verbena: Abronia flowers are in dense rounded heads on trailing stems; Verbena has flowers in spikes.; vs Mirabilis: Abronia flowers lack the cup of fused bracts; Mirabilis has 5 bracts forming a cup around flowers.; vs Glandularia: Abronia has dense rounded flower heads and thick-winged fruits; Glandularia has spiked clusters and dry capsules.
Frequently asked questions
Is Abronia turbinata native to California?
Yes. Abronia turbinata is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Abronia turbinata bloom?
Abronia turbinata blooms May-Jul.
Where in California does Abronia turbinata grow?
Abronia turbinata occurs in San Bernardino, Mono, Kern, Ventura, Inyo, Lassen, Butte, Sierra, at elevations of 900-2500 m.
What plant family does Abronia turbinata belong to?
Abronia turbinata is in the Nyctaginaceae family, genus Abronia.
What habitat does Abronia turbinata grow in?
Abronia turbinata grows in Dry, sandy soil, desert scrub.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · Index of California Plant Names · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-10-07
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.