Mirabilis jalapa
Belle de Nuit
Four o’clock
Additional information
| Plant family | |
|---|---|
| Area | Provence Verte |
| Flower colour | yellow, pink |
| Flower size | 25-35 mm |
| Flowering months | July, August, September, October |
| Leaf type | Lanceolate, Cordate |
| Height | 50 cm-150 cm |
Description
Originally from the tropical part of South America, was introduced into Europa in 1525. In areas where there is frost it dies down in winter but returns in spring; self-seeds. The common name ‘4 o’clock plant’ is derived from its habit of opening in late afternoon and flowering through the night, emitting a strong, sweet odour. Each flower has a life span of 16-20 hours.
Flowers
The flower consists of two parts, a narrow tube 3-5 cm long, opening out into the flower with protruding stamens. Flowers in many colours, even with different colours on the same plant.
Leaves
Lanceolate leaf is lance-shaped: long and widest in the middle, Cordate heart-shaped. Long, wider in the middle, pointed to heart-shaped at the base, 3-10 cm long, 2.5 cm wide.
Fruits Seeds
Capsule: spherical with a single black seed, half encased by the calyx.
Edible
Leaves are edible. Flowers are used in the Far East for food colouring.
Medical
The Aztecs are supposed to have used this plant medicinally for its diuretic, purgative and wound healing properties.
How to use this page
• Click or touch the large image to see and scroll the images against a dark background.
• Click the "Go back" button to return to your plant search or filtered selection.
• Click on the Category or Plant family above to list plants in the same category or family.
• Click "Wild Plants" (or the website title) at the top of the page to start again.