Abronia macrocarpa
L.A. Gal.
Large-fruit Sand-verbena
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very highThreat Impact
Michelle W. （鍾偉瑋）, CC BY 4.0
Reid Hardin, CC BY 4.0
Reid Hardin, CC BY 4.0
Kyle M. Simpson, CC BY 4.0
Kyle M. Simpson, CC BY 4.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.159233
Element CodePDNYC010D0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderCaryophyllales
FamilyNyctaginaceae
GenusAbronia
Other Common Names
largefruit sand-verbena (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2021-02-22
Change Date2020-03-30
Edition Date2021-02-22
Edition AuthorsJ. Poole/K. Maybury (1998), rev. A. Olivero (2003), rev. A. Strong and A. Tomaino (2020), rev. Treher (2021)
Threat ImpactVery high
Range Extent1000-5000 square km (about 400-2000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Abronia macrocarpa is an edaphic endemic of Texas, U.S.A. with all known occurrences of within a 3-county area (Leon, Robertson, and Freestone Counties) of eastern Texas. There are nine populations and an additional three experimental populations. The species occurs in deep, sandy soils in openings of post oak savannah. All of the known occurrences are on private land and threatened by residential development, oil field development, fire suppression, recreational use, and non-native pasture grasses. Conservation of this species relies on landowner cooperation.
Range Extent Comments
Abronia macrocarpa is endemic to Texas, U.S.A., and known from eastern Texas in Leon, Robertson, and Freestone counties (USFWS 1992, 2010, USDA Plants 2022).
Occurrences Comments
The USFWS (2010) outlines nine populations. These genetically distinct populations have little to no gene flow between them, but do have relatively high levels of genetic diversity (USFWS 2010). There are an additional three successful experimental populations that demonstrate a good potential for additional reintroductions (USFWS 2010).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats are very high and include invasive plants and development (Texas Natural Diversity Database 2020). The foreseeable threat with the greatest impact is habitat degradation/loss. Abronia macrocarpa is threatened by residential development, mowing, oil field development, fire suppression, introduction of pasture grasses including coastal Bermuda (Cynodon dactylon) and weeping love grass (Eragrostis curvula), and recreational activities including off-road vehicles, hiking, and horseback riding. Other threats may include browsing by native and non-native herbivores, insect predation, loss of pollinators by pesticides for agriculture, and wild collection for cultivation (Texas Natural Diversity Database 2020, USFWS 1992). The species was once threatened by oil extraction but this is no longer an active threat to the species. However, oil pipelines and associated infrastructure threatened one occurrence. Conservation of this species relies on landowner cooperation, as all occurrences on private land. Agreements have been made with current landowners to avoid mowing the plants during the growing season, which reduces reproductive output.
Ecology & Habitat
Diagnostic Characteristics
This species is characterized by its large, thin-walled anthocarps; texture is thinner and more papery than in any other species of Abronia; anthocarps are among the largest in the genus, anthocarps of Abronia fragrans and A. ameliae are shorter, much narrower, and much more indurate than those of A. macrocarpa.
Habitat
This species occurs in deep, well-drained sands (Eocene-Age sands), sometimes on actively blowing sand dunes, within a post oak-grassland mosaic vegetation type (USFWS 2010). It is one of many herbaceous plants that temporarily dominate these bare sands during spring.
Ecology
Plants are psammophilic and grow best under at least mildly alkaline conditions.
Reproduction
Seeds disperse very short distances, typically less than 1 meter (USFWS 2010).
Terrestrial Habitats
SavannaSand/dune
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
| Province | Rank | Native |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | S2 | Yes |
Threat Assessments
| Threat | Scope | Severity | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 - Residential & commercial development | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Moderate (short-term) |
| 1.1 - Housing & urban areas | Restricted (11-30%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | Moderate (short-term) |
| 2 - Agriculture & aquaculture | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 2.1 - Annual & perennial non-timber crops | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 2.1.4 - Scale unknown/unrecorded | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 3 - Energy production & mining | Large (31-70%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 3.1 - Oil & gas drilling | Large (31-70%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 5 - Biological resource use | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | Unknown |
| 5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plants | Pervasive (71-100%) | Unknown | Unknown |
| 6 - Human intrusions & disturbance | Restricted (11-30%) | Unknown | Unknown |
| 6.1 - Recreational activities | Restricted (11-30%) | Unknown | Unknown |
| 7 - Natural system modifications | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 7.1 - Fire & fire suppression | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 7.1.2 - Suppression in fire frequency/intensity | Unknown | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Large (31-70%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases | Large (31-70%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8.1.1 - Unspecified species | Large (31-70%) | Serious or 31-70% pop. decline | High (continuing) |
| 8.2 - Problematic native species/diseases | Small (1-10%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | Low (long-term) |
| 8.2.1 - Unspecified species | Small (1-10%) | Slight or 1-10% pop. decline | Low (long-term) |
| 9 - Pollution | Restricted (11-30%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluents | Restricted (11-30%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
| 9.3.4 - Type unknown/unrecorded | Restricted (11-30%) | Unknown | High (continuing) |
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
Texas (1)
| Area | Forest | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek | National Forests in Texas | 1,447 |
References (14)
- Corlies, G.K. 1991. Reproductive biology and leaf structure of Abronia macrocarpa Galloway (Nyctaginaceae), and endangered east Texas endemic. M.A. thesis, Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos.
- Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2003b. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 4, Magnoliophyta: Caryophyllidae, part 1. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 559 pp.
- Galloway, L.A. 1972. Abronia macrocarpa (Nyctaginaceae): A new species from Texas. Brittonia 24: 148-149.
- Galloway, L.A. 1975. Systematics of the North American desert species of Abronia and Tripterocalyx (Nyctaginaceae). Brittonia 27: 328-347.
- Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
- Kennedy, K., J.M. Poole, and S. Orzell. 1990. Revised status report on Abronia macrocarpa. Report prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Poole, J.M., and D.H. Riskind. 1987. Endangered, threatened, or protected native plants of Texas. Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Austin. Unpaginated.
- Rutman, S. 1987. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants; Proposed endangered status for Abronia macrocarpa (large fruited sand verbena). Federal Register 52(115): 22944-22946.
- Texas Natural Diversity Database. 2020. Wildlife Diversity Program of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Online at: https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/txndd/
- USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, PLANTS Database [USDA PLANTS]. http://plants.usda.gov/. Accessed 2022.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1990. Large-fruited sand-verbena (<i>Abronia macrocarpa</i>) recovery plan. Report prepared for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1992. Large-fruited sand-verbena (<i>Abronia macrocarpa</i>) recovery plan. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 37 pp.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2010. Large-Fruited Sand-Verbena, <i>Abronia macrocarpa</i> Galloway, 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Austin Ecological Services Field Office, Austin, Texas.
- Williamson, P.S., L. Muliana, and G.K. Janssen. 1994. Pollination biology of <i>Abronia macrocarpa</i> (Nyctaginaceae), an endangered Texas species. Southwest Naturalist 39: 336-341.