About Abronia maritima Nutt. ex S.Watson
Abronia maritima Nutt. ex S.Watson is a species of sand verbena with the common name red sand verbena. It is a beach-adapted perennial plant native to the coastlines of southern California (including the Channel Islands) and northern Baja California. It grows on stable sand dunes that lie near the ocean surf, but not within the surf itself. As a halophyte, it requires saline water that it mostly receives in the form of sea spray, and it cannot tolerate fresh water or prolonged dry conditions. Its succulent tissues are adapted to isolate and store salt. This sand verbena grows into a low green mat along the ground, and its stems are sometimes buried under loose sand. It produces clusters of bright red to pink or purplish flowers year-round. The thick mats it forms provide shelter for many types of small beach-dwelling animals. This is a rare plant, because its habitat is in heavily used beach areas where it is disturbed by human activity.
