Common name: Four o'clock Flower, Marvel of Peru
Mirabilis jalapa L. APNI* 
Description: Erect perennial herb to 1 m with a woody rootstock and large tuberous roots.
Leaves with lamina ± ovate, 4–8 cm long, 1–5 cm wide, mostly cordate at base, glabrous; petiole 1–3 cm long.
Inflorescence 3–7-flowered cyme of which only the central flower develops; surrounded by 5 sepaloid bracts. Perianth 5-lobed, 2–3 cm long, white, yellow or red or a mixture of any of these, opening in the afternoon. Stamens 5 or 6. Anthocarp subglobose, c. 7 mm long.
Flowering: autumn.
Distribution and occurrence: Not common, usually escaped from cultivation. Native of Amer.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *ST, ?LHI
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & G. J. Harden
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 1 (1990)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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