Medicinal Monday - Almost Unknown - Turbinate Sand- Verbena

Almost every plant had a medicinal use, some plants had more uses than others. Although there is only one documented use by Native American Communities for Sand Verbena, we thought we would review that use and interesting facts about this plant. It is actually quite rare with only eight known populations in existence in Oregon as of 2008. Despite the name, Verbena, they are not in the vervains or lantanas family Verbenaceae.

About Sand Verbena

This sprawling flowering plant is in the four o'clock family or the Nyctaginaceae family with the common name of Abronia turbinata. It is native to the high desert regions of California, Nevada, and Oregon and thrives in sandy soil, amid desert scrub, and in  Pinyon-Juniper woodland, sage, and creosote bush scrub. The slender, glandular, slightly hairy stem grows straight up to about 4 inches in height and has many branches that are decumbent to ascending. It has ovate-shaped leaves and clusters of white or lavender tubular-shaped flowers that bloom from  April to October.  This herb is a hermaphrodite having both male and female organs. The seeds are small and black and develop hollow wings.

Medicinal Uses

The most commonly documented use of this herb was that a poultice of mashed leaves was made and applied to swellings by many Native American communities where this plant is found.

Did You Know

This plant must have full sunlight.

This plant is also called Turbinate Sand- Verbena as well as Abronia exalata and Abronia orbiculata.

This herb can be found in  Death Valley National Park and Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve.

Today, many people grow this plant as an ornamental to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

The name Abronia comes from the Greek abros meaning graceful or delicate and the name turbinata from Latin about the shape of the flowers like a spinning top.