red sand verbena

Abronia maritima (Nyctaginaceae) is a species known as red sand verbena. It is native to the coastal regions of California and northern Baja California. The species was first described by S. Watson in 1880, based on a specimen collected by Nuttall in San Diego, California. This specimen, now housed at GH (barcode GH 00376136), has been designated as the lectotype. The original description cited the habitat as the sea-coast from Santa Barbara to San Diego. The plant is adapted to coastal environments and is found on stable sand dunes close to the ocean, but not within the surf zone.