Taxon Report

Abronia umbellata Lam. var. breviflora (Standl.) L.A. Galloway

pink sand-verbena

Print Report


©2021 Scot Loring

Taxon Summary

Abronia umbellata var. breviflora, commonly known as pink sand-verbena, is a annual herb in the Nyctaginaceae that is found in California and elsewhere. It occurs within Coastal dunes, growing at elevations from 0 to 10 meters. Abronia umbellata var. breviflora is ranked 1B.1, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Seriously threatened in California.

  Classification
Scientific Name:
 Abronia umbellata Lam. var. breviflora (Standl.) L.A. Galloway
Common Name:
 pink sand-verbena
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Element Code: PDNYC010N4
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names:
  • Abronia umbellata ssp. breviflora

Ecology and Life History
Lifeform: annual herb
Blooming Period: Jun-Oct Jun-Oct
Elevation: 0-10 (0-35)
General Habitats: Coastal dunes
Microhabitat:
Microhabitat Details:

Conservation Status
CA Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1
Global Rank: G4G5T2
State Rank:
 S2
State List: None
Fed List: None
Other Status: BLM_S; SB_CalBG/RSABG
CRPR Changes:

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB
Total Occurrences: 61
Element Occurrence Ranks:
   Excellent (A) 2
   Good (B) 22
   Fair (C) 11
   Poor (D) 6
   None (X) 1
   Unknown (U) 19

Location
California Endemic:  False
California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Del Norte (DNT), Humboldt (HUM), Marin (MRN), Mendocino (MEN), Sonoma (SON)*
Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Arcata North (4012481), Bodega Head (3812331)*, Crannell (4112411), Crescent City (4112472), Drakes Bay (3812218), Eureka (4012472), Fern Canyon (4112441), Fields Landing (4012462), Fort Bragg (3912347), Inglenook (3912357), Inverness (3812217), Mendocino (3912337), Orick (4112431), Point Arena (3812386), Requa (4112451), Rodgers Peak (4112421), Sister Rocks (4112462), Tomales (3812228), Tyee City (4012482), Westport (3912367)

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

Threat List Total: 12
EOs with Threat Listed: Total EOs % of EOs
45 74 %
Foot traffic/trampling 24 39%
Non-native plant impacts 22 36%
ORV activity 22 36%
Other 16 26%
Erosion/runoff 10 16%
Recreational use (non-ORV) 9 14%
Grazing 2 3%
Mining 1 1%
Altered flood/tidal/hydrologic regime 1 1%
Dam/Inundation 1 1%
Development 1 1%
Road/trail construction/maint. 1 1%

Notes
Most occurrences have few plants. Threatened by vehicles, non-native plants, and foot traffic. State-listed as Endangered in OR.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Selected References

Citation California Native Plant Society, Rare Plant Program. 2025. Rare Plant Inventory (online edition, v9.5.1). Website https://www.rareplants.cnps.org [accessed 10 May 2025].