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| Scientific Name | Mirabilis jalapa | USDA PLANTS Symbol | MIJA |
| Common Name | Marvel of Peru, Common Four O'clock | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 19648 |
| Family | Nyctaginaceae (Four O'clock) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Habitat: Various soils on plains, pastures and disturbed areas; widely cultivated as an ornamental. Plant: Much-branched, bushy, perennial 16 to 40 inches tall with erect to ascending stems; deep green, smooth foliage, somewhat sticky. Leaves: Opposite, ovate to ovate deltoid with pointed tips and blunt or indented bases and smooth margins; 1-1/2 to 5-1/2 inches long and 3/4 to 3+ inches wide; slender petioles about half as long as the blades, uppermost blades nearly sessile. Inflorescence: Several compact clusters with one to fifteen flowers on short stalks, and each cluster subtended by a pair of leaf-like bracts; rose-pink or yellow (sometimes white or striped) funnel-shaped flowers usually hairless, 1-1/4 to 2 inches long with 5 flared, notched flared lobes; 5 long stamens extending beyond the tube; pistil with one, long, threadlike style extending beyond the stamens and a rounded stigma. Bloom Period: Spring to fall until frost; fragrant flowers usually open from late afternoon or at dusk, or earler on cloudy days. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Texas Status: Introduced |
| Scientific Name | Mirabilis nyctaginea | USDA PLANTS Symbol | MINY |
| Common Name | Heart-leaf Four O'clock | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 19655 |
| Family | Nyctaginaceae (Four O'clock) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Habitat: Dry, sandy, calcarous soils on hillsides, pastures, disturbed areas. Plant: Erect perennial 1 to 3 feet tall; usually solitary stems with forked branches, ridged, often purplish. Leaves: Opposite, upward-pointing, ovate-lanceolate to cordate, 2 to 4-3/4 inches long and from less than 1 to 2-1/2 inches wide with pointed tips; lower leaves on petioles up to 3/4-inch long; surfaces smooth or nearly so. Inflorescence: Forked terminal cluster of groups of pink bell-shaped blossoms, usually 3 blossoms per involucre on a hairy peduncle; flower about 1/2-inch across with 5 notched lobes and 3 to 5 protruding stamens with pink filaments and yellow anthers. Bloom Period: April to November. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Wildflowers of Texas" by Geyata Ajilvsgi and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Texas Status: Native |
| Scientific Name | Mirabilis texensis (Mirabilis rotata) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | MITE13 |
| Common Name | Texas Four O'clock | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 507909 |
| Family | Nyctaginaceae (Four O'clock) | Flora of North America Ref. | Click Here |
| Description |
Habitat: Desert environment, sunny, gravelly limestone slopes; 2000 to 3000 ft. Plant: Upright/ascending perennial 12 to 40 inches tall, slender, sparsely branched, somewhat hairy stems. Leaves: Along lower portion of plant and/or clustered at base, blades ovate to oblong, 3/4 to 2-3/4 inches long and wide; petioles 1/8 to 1-1/2 inches long; pointed to rounded tips and smooth to glandular surfaces. Inflorescence: Pink to purple bell-shaped blossoms, less than 1/2-inch across at branch tips and leaf axils; five notched lobes; protruding stamens. Bloom Period: Summer and early fall. References: Flora of North America and M. rotata in "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston. |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Texas Status: Native |
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