Mirabilis jalapa

<<<<Inflorescences>Involucres>Lobes>Shape>Length

ca. 2-3 mm long1

1. 004-004-004-001-001

<<<Inflorescences>Involucres>Lobes>Hairs

usually ciliate2

2. 004-004-004-002

<<<Inflorescences>Involucres>Lobes>Shape

linear-lanceolate to lance-ovate, , acute to attenuate3

3. 004-004-004-001

<<<Petiole>Blade>Apex>Shape

acute or acuminate4

4. 003-003-003-001

<<<Petiole>Blade>Base>Hairs

glabrous or rarely puberulent, except for ciliate margin5

5. 003-003-004-002

<<<Petiole>Blade>Base>Shape

subcordate or rounded and short-decurrent6

6. 003-003-004-001

<<Anthocarps>Shape>Angle or rib number

5-angled or -ribbed7

7. 006-001-002

<<Anthocarps>Shape>Length

7-13 mm long8

8. 006-001-001

<<Habit>Taproot>Branch number

much-branched9

9. 001-002-002

<<Habit>Taproot>Texture

fleshy10

10. 001-002-001

<<Inflorescences>Branches>Flower number

2- to 5-flowered11

11. 004-003-001

<<Inflorescences>Involucres>Hairs

glabrous, puberulent or short-villous12

12. 004-004-002

<<Inflorescences>Involucres>Length

7-19 mm long (longer in fruit)13

13. 004-004-001

<<Inflorescences>Involucres>Lobe number

5-lobed14

14. 004-004-003

<<Inflorescences>Involucres>Lobes

lobes , .15

15. 004-004-004

<<Inflorescences>Peduncle>Length

1-2 mm long16

16. 004-002-001

<<Perianth>Limbs>Width

2-3.5 cm wide17

17. 005-005-001

<<Perianth>Stamens>Stamen number

518

18. 005-006-001

<<Perianth>Tube>Diameter

1.5 mm diam.19

19. 005-004-001

<<Petiole>Blade>Apex

apex ,20

20. 003-003-003

<<Petiole>Blade>Base

base , .21

21. 003-003-004

<<Petiole>Blade>Dimensions

3.2-14 x 1.8-8.5 cm22

22. 003-003-002

<<Petiole>Blade>Shape

lanceolate, deltate, ovate-deltate, broadly ovate or lance-ovate23

23. 003-003-001

<Anthocarps>Colour

dark brown or black24

24. 006-003

<Anthocarps>Hairs

glabrous or puberulent25

25. 006-002

<Anthocarps>Shape

ovoid or obovoid, , , slightly constricted above base26

26. 006-001

<Habit>Height

to 1.5 m27

27. 001-001

<Habit>Taproot

usually large, , taproot.28

28. 001-002

<Inflorescences>Branches

branches ending in cymose glomerules;29

29. 004-003

<Inflorescences>Involucres

involucre , , ,30

30. 004-004

<Inflorescences>Peduncle

peduncle absent or ;31

31. 004-002

<Inflorescences>Position

terminal32

32. 004-001

<Perianth>Colour

variable in colour (pink, red, purple, yellow or white)33

33. 005-002

<Perianth>Hairs

glabrous or sparsely villous outside34

34. 005-003

<Perianth>Length

3-5.5 cm long35

35. 005-001

<Perianth>Limbs

limb , shallowly lobed;36

36. 005-005

<Perianth>Stamens

stamens , equalling to greatly exceeding perianth.37

37. 005-006

<Perianth>Tube

tube , dilated above,38

38. 005-004

<Petiole>Blade

blade , ,39

39. 003-003

<Petiole>Hairs

glabrous or puberulent40

40. 003-002

<Petiole>Length

0.5-5.5 cm long41

41. 003-001

<Stems>Hairs

glabrous or puberulent in lines, rarely villous42

42. 002-001

Anthocarps

Anthocarp , muricate, verrucose or rugose, , .43

43. 006

Common Name

English (Guyana): four o'clock, marvel of Peru English (Suriname): nachtschone, vieruursbloem

Description

Erect perennial herb to 1.5 m; usually large, fleshy, much-branched taproot. Stem much branched, glabrous or puberulent in lines, rarely villous. Petiole 0.5-5.5 cm long, glabrous or puberulent; blade lanceolate, deltate, ovate-deltate, broadly ovate or lance-ovate, 3.2-14 x 1.8-8.5 cm, apex acute or acuminate, base subcordate or rounded and short-decurrent, glabrous or rarely puberulent, except for ciliate margin. Inflorescence a terminal cyme; peduncle absent or 1-2 mm long; branches ending in 2- to 5-flowered cymose glomerules; involucre 7-19 mm long (longer in fruit), glabrous, puberulent or short-villous, 5-lobed, lobes linear-lanceolate to lance-ovate, ca. 2-3 mm long, acute to attenuate, usually ciliate. Perianth 3-5.5 cm long, variable in colour (pink, red, purple, yellow or white), glabrous or sparsely villous outside, tube 1.5 mm diam., dilated above, limb 2-3.5 cm wide, shallowly lobed; stamens 5, equalling to greatly exceeding perianth. Anthocarp ovoid or obovoid, 7-13 mm long, 5-angled or -ribbed, slightly constricted above base, muricate, verrucose or rugose, glabrous or puberulent, dark brown or black.

Distribution

French Guiana present, Guyana cultivated, Northern America, Suriname present, tropical America present

Tropical America, the exact origin unknown but possibly Mexico (Standley, 1931); pantropically cultivated ornamental, including in gardens of Guyana and Suriname, and occasionally observed in Suriname as probably naturalized; 20 collections studied (GU: 2; SU: 18). The species is cited from Cayenne, French Guiana by Lemée (1955); two specimens at F, from Kamakusa and Demerara in Guyana (both not seen), were cited by Standley (1931).

Habit

Erect perennial herb ;44

44. 001

Individuals Association

Suriname, Paramaribo, Went 21 Guyana, Pomeroon Distr., Moruka R., Mora Landing, de la Cruz 965 Suriname, Nickerie Distr., Nieuw-Nickerie, probably naturalized, Hekking 951

Inflorescences

Inflorescence a cyme;45

45. 004

Perianth

Perianth , , ,46

46. 005

Petiole

Petiole , ;47

47. 003

Stems

Stem much branched, .48

48. 002

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