AI overview
Mirabilis jalapa, commonly known as the four o'clock flower, is a tropical plant species named for its flowers that typically open in the late afternoon. The plant has been cultivated for centuries for its ornamental colorful flowers and has also been used in traditional medicine, though scientific evidence for medicinal benefits remains limited.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
marvel of Peru
SPECIES
- KingdomPlantae
- PhylumTracheophyta
- ClassMagnoliopsida
- OrderCaryophyllales
- FamilyNyctaginaceae
Native toBelize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua
Observations36,343
Common Name: madrone (Spanish)
via GBIF · Kew POWO
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Subclass of
- annual plant
Article
Mirabilis jalapa, the marvel of Peru or four o'clock flower, is the most commonly grown ornamental species of Mirabilis plant, and is available in a range of colors. Mirabilis in Latin means wonderful and Jalapa (or Xalapa) is the state capital of Veracruz in Mexico. Mirabilis jalapa is believed to have been cultivated by the Aztecs for medicinal and ornamental purposes.
The flowers usually open from late afternoon or at dusk (namely between 4 and 8 o'clock), giving rise to one of its common names. The flowers then produce a strong, sweet fragrance throughout the night, then close in the morning. New flowers open the following day. It arrived in Europe in 1525. Today, it is common in many tropical regions and is also valued in Europe as an ornamental plant, although not necessarily hardy. It is the children's state flower of Connecticut under the name of Michaela Petit's Four O'Clocks.