Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Spring.
Corona Arch Trail, Utah, April 13, 2005.

Sand Verbena is quite common and often is found in large patches on deep sandy areas of Canyon Country.  Sand Verbena's large spray of visually attractive flowers are made even more attractive because of their fabulously sweet smell.  The little trumpet flowers are clustered in a sphere and are sometimes tinged with a hint of pink. 

The first four photographs show the progressive stages of the opening flowers.

Jussieu named this genus in 1789 and Nuttall named the species in a publication by Hooker,  probably his 1830s volumes, Flora Boreali-Americana.

"Abro" is Greek for "delicate" or "pretty", referring to the flowers.

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Spring.
Corona Arch Trail, Utah, April 13, 2005.

In this photograph the drooping, unopened, greenish-yellow flower bud clusters hang to the far left of the white floral fireworks -- which still are not fully opened.  In the picture below the individual trumpet flowers are almost fully opened.

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Spring.
Corona Arch Trail, Utah, April 13, 2005.

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Spring.
Corona Arch Trail, Utah, May 5, 2005.

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Spring.
Hunter Canyon, Utah, May 3, 2005.

Beauty and symmetry from the back.

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Spring.
Behind the Rocks, Moab, Utah, April 15, 2008.

Stems often sprawl along the ground and then grow erect.

Semi-desert, foothills. Openings. Spring.
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, June 5, 2005.

This newly forming seed-head still shows the dried, brown remnants of once lovely white flowers.