Herb: Desert Sand Verbena


Latin name: Abronia villosa


Family: Nyctaginaceae (Four-o'clock Family)



Medicinal use of Desert Sand Verbena:

The plant is used to induce the flow of urine. A poultice of the mashed roots has been used to treat burns.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Annual


Height:
10 cm
(4 inches)

Flowering:
July to
September

Habitat of the herb:

Found in creosote bush scrub from sea level to elevations of 2500 metres in California.

Propagation of Desert Sand Verbena:

Seed - sow autumn or early spring very shallowly in pots of sandy soil in a greenhouse. Germination can be very slow unless you peel off the outer skin and pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 2 months at 15°C. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out in early summer.

Cultivation of the herb:

Found in creosote bush scrub from sea level to elevations of 2500 metres in California.

Known hazards of Abronia villosa:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.