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Mirabilis longiflora

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Mirabilis longiflora
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Caryophyllales
Family: Nyctaginaceae
Genus: Mirabilis
Species:
M. longiflora
Binomial name
Mirabilis longiflora

Mirabilis longiflora, also known as the sweet four o'clock[1] or the long-flowered four o'Clock,[2] is a species of flowering plant native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The flowers open in the late afternoon and bloom through the night, hence the name.

Description

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Flowers

It is a herbaceous, tender perennial species that grows up to 150 cm high (5 feet). It has upright, thin stems that branch densely from the base. Petiolate leaves between 6 to 11.5 cm long and 3 to 7 cm wide in ovate or lanceo-ovate shape, bright green in color.

Inflorescences

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The inflorescences are terminal or axillary, very compact, with linear and foliar bracts. The involvements are bell-shaped, 1 to 1.5 cm long, with unequal triangular or slightly lanceolate lobes. The flower has a perianth 8 to 17 cm long, 5 stamens, brush-shaped stigma. The fruit is an elliptical or oblong dark-colored achene about 8 mm long by 5 mm wide.

Flower colour is white to pinkish with a reddish or purplish throat. This species is a nocturnal flowerer, whose long, narrow, strongly-scented, tubular flowers (approaching 17 centimeters in maximum length) exhale a fragrant aroma at nights.[2]

Habitat

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Native to southwestern United States, from Arizona to Texas and northern Mexico, it is found in scrubby canyons and riverbanks.[2]

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References

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  1. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Mirabilis longiflora​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  2. ^ a b c Mirabilis longiflora Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 8 April 2024.