Mirabilis (plant)

Mirabilis
Mirabilis jalapa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Core eudicots
Order:	Caryophyllales
Family:	Nyctaginaceae
Genus:	Mirabilis Riv. ex L.
Species
About 60; see text.

Mirabilis is a genus of plants in the family Nyctaginaceae known as the four o'clocks. The best known species may be Mirabilis jalapa, the plant most commonly called four o'clock.

There are several dozen species in the genus, of herbaceous plants, mostly found in the Americas. Sometimes they have tuberous roots which enables them to perennate through dry and cool seasons. They have small, deep-throated flowers, often fragrant.

Although best known as ornamental plants, at least one species, Mirabilis expansa, mauka, is grown for food.

Species include:

• Mirabilis alipes
• Mirabilis coccinea
• Mirabilis expansa
• Mirabilis greenei
• Mirabilis jalapa
• Mirabilis laevis
• Mirabilis longiflora
• Mirabilis macfarlanei
• Mirabilis multiflora
• Mirabilis nyctaginea
• Mirabilis oblongifolia
• Mirabilis pumila
• Mirabilis tenuiloba

External links

• Mirabilis in the Flora of North America
• NCBI Taxonomy Browser

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