Large-fruit Sand-verbena / Center For Plant Conservation
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Plant Profile

Large-fruit Sand-verbena (Abronia macrocarpa)

Closeup of specimen at Mercer growing in sandy soil. Note the showy purple flower clusters. Photo Credit: Greg Wieland
  • Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
  • Legal Status: Federally Endangered
  • Family: Nyctaginaceae
  • State: TX
  • Nature Serve ID: 159233
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 03/05/1993
Description:

The large-fruited sand verbena is a graceful perennial member of the four o'clock family and is native to sandy areas of East Texas. The stems are ascending to erect, to 50 cm tall. The sand verbena produces among the region's most attractive inflorescences. In spring, head-like clusters of 20-75 fuchsia to magenta flowers 18-30 mm long are borne above light green, hairy, sticky leaves. Intensely scented flowers open at dusk and attract moths throughout the evening hours until dawn. Plants are self-infertile with viable fruit occurring only as result of plant-to-plant crosses (Williamson and Bazeer 1997). The fruits 8-15 mm long, heart-shaped in side view and have 5 papery wings. Wind-blown fruits travel across the plant's habitat thus dispersing the fruit's seeds. After flowering the plant goes dormant for the summer, surviving as a taproot. Abronia macrocarpa is adapted to the harsh and fragile sandy openings and dunes in savannah-like woodlands. These regions are characterized by deep, sandy infertile soils, disturbed areas with low and unreliable precipitation levels and extreme daily and yearly temperature fluctuations. First collected in 1968 but not formally described until 1972, the plant has been federally listed as endangered since 1988 (Reed 2001; Tiller 2001; Williamson 2001).

Where is Large-fruit Sand-verbena (Abronia macrocarpa) located in the wild?

Habitat:

A. macrocarpa is found on sandy substrates, including blowouts, aeolian sand deposits, and sandy dunes in post oak and grassland mosaic vegetation types. Soil type of one site in Freestone County, which contains thousands of individuals, is characterized as the Pickton loamy fine sands in the southern portion and Wolfpen loamy fine sand at the northern extent (Williamson 2001).

Distribution:

Occurs in the sand dune habitats of post oak savannas of east-central Texas counties of Freestone, Leon and Robertson. Abronia macrocarpa occurs on sandy substrates, including blowouts, aeolian sand d

States & Provinces:

Large-fruit Sand-verbena can be found in Texas

Which CPC Partners conserve Large-fruit Sand-verbena (Abronia macrocarpa)?

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

  • 08/11/2020
  • Living Collection

Plants produced for educational display gardens or for specific restoration and reintroduction projects are produced within Mercers nursery greenhouses and within our Conservation Area. The Conservation Area provides secure, raised beds for mass propagation of plants/seeds. Each bed is provided with independently controlled irrigation and substrates that meet the unique requirements for each species. Mercer has maintained an experimental population of Abronia macrocarpa for ~9 years at our Conservation area. Seeds gathered from these plants are used for educational garden displays and propagation experiments.

  • 07/31/2020
  • Demographic Research

Extensive research on pollination biology, genetics , phenology etc., by Dr. Paula Williamson and students at SW Texas State University, San Marcos, TX.

  • 07/31/2020
  • Genetic Research

Extensive research on pollination biology, genetics , phenology etc., by Dr. Paula Williamson and students at SW Texas State University, San Marcos, TX.

  • 07/31/2020
  • Living Collection

In November 2001, several young plants were transplanted from the Conservation area to Mercers Endangered Species Garden. These Abronia macrocarpa transplants provided a beautiful display of blooms for the public during the Spring of 2002 and should provide a permanent exhibit for years to come. The Endangered Species Garden, established in 1994 with support from Star Enterprises, displays rare native plants for the public to view year-round.

  • 07/31/2020
  • Propagation Research

Germination protocols continue to be standardized by staff at Mercer Arboretum. Plants produced for educational display gardens or for specific restoration and reintroduction projects are produced within Mercers nursery greenhouses and within our Conservation Area. The Conservation Area provides secure, raised beds for mass propagation of plants/seeds. Each bed is provided with independently controlled irrigation and substrates that meet the unique requirements for each species. Mercer has maintained an experimental population of Abronia macrocarpa for ~9 years at our Conservation area. Seeds gathered from these plants are used for educational garden displays and propagation experiments.

  • 07/30/2020
  • Orthodox Seed Banking

In January of 2002 Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens received seed collected during the 2001 growing season from the six wild populations studied by Dr. Paula Williamson in 2001. Subsets of these seeds were banked at Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX and the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) in Ft. Collins, CO (formerly called the National Seed Storage Laboratories). Mercer maintains wild collected seeds for this species dating to 1989.

  • 07/30/2020
  • Seed Collection

In January of 2002 Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens received seed collected during the 2001 growing season from the six wild populations studied by Dr. Paula Williamson in 2001. Subsets of these seeds were banked at Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX and the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) in Ft. Collins, CO (formerly called the National Seed Storage Laboratories). Mercer maintains wild collected seeds for this species dating to 1989.

Nature Serve Biotics
  • 05/02/2017

The few known occurrences of Abronia macrocarpa all occur within a 3-county area in eastern Texas. Habitat is sandy soils in openings in post oak savannah (USFWS 1992). Abronia macrocarpa is threatened by residential development, oil field development, fire suppression, recreational use, and non-native pasture grasses.

Dave Berkshire
  • 01/01/2010

Residential development, oil field development, exotics (South African lovegrass, weeping lovegrass), trail bikes, off-road vehicles, deer grazing, grass encroachment, low numbers, limited distribution, hikers, fire suppression, over collection (USFWS 199

Dave Berkshire
  • 01/01/2010

9 sites with a total of many 1000 plants (Texas State University - San Marcos) Report from 2006 for 9 populations: Population 1 Freestone County, TX ~28K on 20 acres Population 2 Leon County, TX ~6,200 on 5.5 acres Population 3 Leon County, TX ~12K on over 90 acres Population 4 Leon County, TX ~8K on 8.5 acres Population 5 Robertson County, TX ~5K on 2.7 acres Population 6 Robertson County, TX 750 on 10.6 acres Population 7 Robertson County, TX 4,500 on12 acres Population 8 Leon County, TX ~30K on 30 acres Population 9 Leon County, TX area and number not determined (discovered in 2006) Therefore, a total nearly 100,000 plants in all size classes have been observed by Dr. Paula Williamson of Texas State University at San Marcos, TX and Gena K. Janssen of Janssen Biological of Austin, TX for 6 of the populations.

Dave Berkshire
  • 01/01/2010

Extensive research on pollination biology, genetics , phenology etc., by Dr. Paula Williamson and students at SW Texas State University, San Marcos, TX. Germination protocols continue to be standardized by staff at Mercer Arboretum. In January of 2002 Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens received seed collected during the 2001 growing season from the six wild populations studied by Dr. Paula Williamson in 2001. Subsets of these seeds were banked at Mercer Arboretum and Botanic Gardens, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin, TX and the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (NCGRP) in Ft. Collins, CO (formerly called the National Seed Storage Laboratories). Mercer maintains wild collected seeds for this species dating to 1989. Both Williamson and Janssen maintain strong partnerships with private landowners where Abronia macrocarpa grows. Dr. Williamson presented the 2002 field growing season reports and current research in her seminar Status of the Large-fruited Sand Verbena (Abronia macrocarpa) on Sept. 5, 2002 at the TX Plant Conservation Conference 2002 at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, TX. Plants produced for educational display gardens or for specific restoration and reintroduction projects are produced within Mercers nursery greenhouses and within our Conservation Area. The Conservation Area provides secure, raised beds for mass propagation of plants/seeds. Each bed is provided with independently controlled irrigation and substrates that meet the unique requirements for each species. Mercer has maintained an experimental population of Abronia macrocarpa for ~9 years at our Conservation area. Seeds gathered from these plants are used for educational garden displays and propagation experiments. In November 2001, several young plants were transplanted from the Conservation area to Mercers Endangered Species Garden. These Abronia macrocarpa transplants provided a beautiful display of blooms for the public during the Spring of 2002 and should provide a permanent exhibit for years to come. The Endangered Species Garden, established in 1994 with support from Star Enterprises, displays rare native plants for the public to view year-round. In Spring 2002, the River Oaks Garden Club of Houston, TX provided a generous gift to be used for the initiation of the expansion and renovation of Mercers Endangered Species Garden. (Tiller 2001b)

Dave Berkshire
  • 01/01/2010

Surveys for new populations and of existing populations

Dave Berkshire
  • 01/01/2010

Monitor and protect existing populations from present and future threats. Continue additional survey work to locate new populations. Studies of demographic and genetic viability are needed. Continue habitat characterization.

Dave Berkshire
  • 01/01/2010

Further investigate cultivation requirements. Expand reserve seed bank and cultivated populations.

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Nomenclature
Taxon Abronia macrocarpa
Authority L.A.Gal.
Family Nyctaginaceae
CPC Number 16061
ITIS 19561
USDA ABMA5
Duration Perennial
Common Names large-fruited sand-verbena | largefruit sand verbena | large-fruited sand verbena
Associated Scientific Names Abronia macrocarpa
Distribution Occurs in the sand dune habitats of post oak savannas of east-central Texas counties of Freestone, Leon and Robertson. Abronia macrocarpa occurs on sandy substrates, including blowouts, aeolian sand d
State Rank
State State Rank
Texas S2
Ecological Relationships

Photos
Newsletters
Pollinators
Common Name Name in Text Association Type Source InteractionID
Butterflies & Moths
Sphinx moths Deidamia inscripta Confirmed Pollinator Link
Sphinx moths Dolba hyloeus Confirmed Pollinator Link
Sphinx moths Erinnyis obscura Confirmed Pollinator Link
Noctuid moths Hypsoropha monilis Confirmed Pollinator Link
Reintroduction
Lead Institution State Reintroduction Type Year of First Outplanting
Texas State University Texas Reintroduction 2005
Texas State University Texas Reinforcement 2006
Texas State University Texas Reintroduction 2010

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