Abronia fragrans
Snowball Sand Verbena
a perennial member of the Abronia genus in the family Nyctaginaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Nyctaginaceae
- Genus
- Abronia
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Height
- 0.6 m
- Spread
- 0.8 m
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Root - cooked[10]. Dried then ground into a powder and mixed with corn[12][2][4]. Use of the root was said by some North American Indian tribes to give one a good appetite and make them fat[8].
- Plant part
- Root
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The plant is cathartic, diaphoretic and emetic[8]. The roots and flowers were used by the North American Indians to treat stomach cramps and as a general panacea or 'life' medicine[8]. A cold infusion was used as a lotion for sores or sore mouths and also to bathe perspiring feet[8].
- Product or use
- Cathartic
- Product or use
- Diaphoretic
- Product or use
- Emetic
Environment
- Range
- South-western N. America - South Dakota to Nebraska, Colorado, Texas and Mexico
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- no shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 8+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Drainage
- well drained
- Tolerances
- drought
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- tolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - sow autumn or early spring very shallowly in pots of sandy soil in a greenhouse[3]. Germination can be very slow unless you peel off the outer skin and pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water[5][7]. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 15°c[3]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Seedlings are prone to damp off and so should be kept well-ventilated[5]. Plant out in late spring, after the last expected frosts. Cuttings in spring, rooted in sand[5].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a light well-drained sandy soil in full sun[5]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, though it should succeed outdoors in the southern part of the country, especially if given a warm sheltered site[5]. The flowers are produced in terminal clusters, they only open in the coolness of the evening, diffusing a vanilla-like perfume[7]. Seed is rarely ripened on plants growing in Britain[1].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. 1987-00-00
Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5
Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994-00-00 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8
Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9
Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955-00-00
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202