Mirabilis_longiflora

<i>Mirabilis longiflora</i>

Mirabilis longiflora

Species of flowering plant

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.

Quick Facts Mirabilis longiflora, Scientific classification ...

Description

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

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

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

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mirabilis longiflora.
  1. [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. [2]
    Mirabilis longiflora Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
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