8,743
edits
Changes
no edit summary
|image_width=240
|image_width=240
}}
}}
{{Inc|
Mirabilis jalapa, Linn. Four-o'clock. Marvel Of Peru. Fig. 2377. Erect-bushy quick-growing herb, germinating readily from the large conical-oblong frs., 2-3 ft. high, bearing profusely in late summer and fall long- tubed funnelform fls. in white and shades of red and yellow, and striped, opening in cloudy weather or late in the afternoon (whence the common name four- o'clock), and closing in the morning: lvs. ovate-lanceolate, short-petioled, acuminate, entire: fls. in clusters amongst the lvs.; stamens not exserted. Trop. Amer. B.M. 371. G. 2:499.—Cult.from early times, and always a favorite. In the tropics it has tuberous roots, and these were once supposed to be the source of jalap, whence the name Jalapa. There are dwarf and compact varieties; also forms with variegated foliage. The four o'clock is an "old-fashioned" fl. It is treated as a tender annual, thriving in any garden soil. It is a useful plant for growing in a hedge (plants 1 ft. apart) at the rear of the fl.-garden. Sometimes it comes up in the spring from self-sown seeds. Even as far north as New York, it often produces tuberous roots large enough to be lifted and stored like dahlias.
}}
'''''Mirabilis jalapa''''' (The '''four o'clock flower''' or '''marvel of Peru''') is the most commonly grown ornamental species of ''Mirabilis'', and is available in a range of colours. ''Mirabilis'' in [[Latin]] means wonderful and [[Jalapa]] is a town in [[Mexico]]. ''Mirabilis jalapa'' is said to have been exported from the [[Peru]]vian [[Andes]] in 1540.
'''''Mirabilis jalapa''''' (The '''four o'clock flower''' or '''marvel of Peru''') is the most commonly grown ornamental species of ''Mirabilis'', and is available in a range of colours. ''Mirabilis'' in [[Latin]] means wonderful and [[Jalapa]] is a town in [[Mexico]]. ''Mirabilis jalapa'' is said to have been exported from the [[Peru]]vian [[Andes]] in 1540.