Abronia ammophila, the Yellowstone sand verbena, or Wyoming sand verbena, is a plant unique to Yellowstone National Park lakeshores and is endemic to the park.[1] Part of the "Four o'clock" family (Nyctaginaceae), the abronia ammophila is best suited in sandy soils and lake shores.[2]
The presence of a sand verbena on the Yellowstone Plateau is surprising because of the high elevation (approximately 7,740 feet, or 2,360 meters) and long, cold winters. Yellowstone sand verbena is a member of a New World plant family that typically lives in warmer climates such as deserts. The genus Abronia includes about 30 species that primarily occur in warmer areas of the western United States and Mexico. Some botanists speculate that the thermal activity in Yellowstone has made it possible for a sand verbena to survive the harsh winters here and slowly evolve into a species that is adapted to this climate.
In recent surveys, botanists have located four populations of Yellowstone sand verbena, but very little is known about its life history and biology. For example, the plant is represented as an annual in the scientific literature, although it is actually a perennial that overwinters underground as a large root system.
This species was more widely distributed around the lake.[3] Due to trampling by foot traffic and habitat degradation, the population of the species within the park decreased 56% between 1998 and 2010.[4]
Descriptionedit
It is a perennial herb[2] with prostrate stems up to 4 dm long, which are sticky and hairy. Head-like clusters of whitish, tubular flowers surrounded by 5 oval bracts bloom in July and August.[4]
Referencesedit
^Saunders, N. Elizabeth; Sipes, Sedonia D. (August 2006). "Reproductive biology and pollination ecology of the rare Yellowstone Park endemic Abronia ammophila (Nyctaginaceae)". Plant Species Biology. 21 (2): 75–84. doi:10.1111/j.1442-1984.2006.00153.x. ISSN 0913-557X.
^ ab"Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
^Whipple, Jennifer J. "Yellowstone Sand Verbena (Abronia ammophila): A Yellowstone Lake Endemic". 6th Biennial Scientific Conference: 256.
Saunders, E., & Sipes S. (2006). Reproductive biology and pollination ecology of the rare Yellowstone Park endemic Abronia ammophilia. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-1984.2006.00153.x
This Caryophyllales article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
abronia, ammophila, yellowstone, sand, verbena, wyoming, sand, verbena, plant, unique, yellowstone, national, park, lakeshores, endemic, park, part, four, clock, family, nyctaginaceae, abronia, ammophila, best, suited, sandy, soils, lake, shores, conservation,. Abronia ammophila the Yellowstone sand verbena or Wyoming sand verbena is a plant unique to Yellowstone National Park lakeshores and is endemic to the park 1 Part of the Four o clock family Nyctaginaceae the abronia ammophila is best suited in sandy soils and lake shores 2 Abronia ammophilaConservation statusCritically Imperiled NatureServe Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsOrder CaryophyllalesFamily NyctaginaceaeGenus AbroniaSpecies A ammophilaBinomial nameAbronia ammophilaGreeneThe presence of a sand verbena on the Yellowstone Plateau is surprising because of the high elevation approximately 7 740 feet or 2 360 meters and long cold winters Yellowstone sand verbena is a member of a New World plant family that typically lives in warmer climates such as deserts The genus Abronia includes about 30 species that primarily occur in warmer areas of the western United States and Mexico Some botanists speculate that the thermal activity in Yellowstone has made it possible for a sand verbena to survive the harsh winters here and slowly evolve into a species that is adapted to this climate In recent surveys botanists have located four populations of Yellowstone sand verbena but very little is known about its life history and biology For example the plant is represented as an annual in the scientific literature although it is actually a perennial that overwinters underground as a large root system Contents 1 Distribution 2 Description 3 References 4 External linksDistribution editThis species was more widely distributed around the lake 3 Due to trampling by foot traffic and habitat degradation the population of the species within the park decreased 56 between 1998 and 2010 4 Description editIt is a perennial herb 2 with prostrate stems up to 4 dm long which are sticky and hairy Head like clusters of whitish tubular flowers surrounded by 5 oval bracts bloom in July and August 4 References edit Saunders N Elizabeth Sipes Sedonia D August 2006 Reproductive biology and pollination ecology of the rare Yellowstone Park endemic Abronia ammophila Nyctaginaceae Plant Species Biology 21 2 75 84 doi 10 1111 j 1442 1984 2006 00153 x ISSN 0913 557X a b Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center The University of Texas at Austin www wildflower org Retrieved 2021 08 18 Whipple Jennifer J Yellowstone Sand Verbena Abronia ammophila A Yellowstone Lake Endemic 6th Biennial Scientific Conference 256 a b Abronia ammophila Greene 2018 External links editYellowstone National Park Saunders E amp Sipes S 2006 Reproductive biology and pollination ecology of the rare Yellowstone Park endemic Abronia ammophilia doi 10 1111 j 1442 1984 2006 00153 x nbsp This Caryophyllales article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abronia ammophila amp oldid 1151003116, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
