Avicennia sp.
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Acanthaceae · Type: Shrub · Not Native
Avicennia sp. is a non-native California shrub in the Acanthaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Lagunaria: Avicennia has exposed vertical roots in salt marsh; primrose tree is coastal but upland with no special roots.; vs Salix: Avicennia has upright snorkel-like roots in salt marsh; willow has normal roots in freshwater or riparian areas.; vs Umbellularia: Avicennia is a salt marsh shrub with exposed roots; bay laurel is an upland tree with aromatic leaves.; vs Justicia: Avicennia is coastal salt marsh with white flowers; Justicia is desert with scarlet flowers.; vs Carlowrightia: Avicennia is coastal salt marsh shrub; Carlowrightia is desert shrub with lavender flowers.
Frequently asked questions
Is Avicennia sp. native to California?
No. Avicennia sp. is not native to California (recorded as not native).
What plant family does Avicennia sp. belong to?
Avicennia sp. is in the Acanthaceae family, genus Avicennia.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.